Taxonomy Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 orders of bird species?

A
  1. Sphenisciformes
  2. Procellariformes
  3. Pelecaniiformes
  4. Charadiiformes
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2
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the order Sphenisicformes?

A
  • Flightless
  • Flattened fused wing bones
  • Bones are not Pneumatic
  • Forelimbs are modified flippers
  • 3 layers of feathers
  • Layer of fat below skin
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3
Q

Where are the species of the order Sphenisciformes exclusively found?

A

The southern hemisphere

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4
Q

What order could potentially share a common ancestor with Sphenisciformes?

A

Procellariiformes

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5
Q

How many families are within the order Procellariiformes?

A

4

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6
Q

What are the 4 families within the order Procellariiformes?

A
  1. Diomedeidae
  2. Procellariidae
  3. Pelecanoididae
  4. Hydrobatidae
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7
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the order Procellariiformes?

A
  • Tube noses
  • No crop in digestive tract
  • Lay 1 egg
  • Produce stomach oil for feeding chicks
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8
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Diomedeidae?

A

Albatrosses:
- Large with narrow wings
- Largest wingspans of any bird
- left and right nasal tube are separated
- Can lock humerus

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9
Q

How many species groups are within the family Procellaride?

A

5

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10
Q

What are the 5 species groups within the family Procellariidae?

A
  1. Fulmars
  2. Prions
  3. Gadfly Petrals
  4. Shearwaters
  5. Larger Petrals
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11
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Pelecanoididae?

A

Diving petrels:
- Small
- Short winged
- Feed almost exclusively underwater
- No gliding flight, rapid wingbeats only
- Swim underwater

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12
Q

Where are the species of the family Pelecanoididae exclusively found?

A

The southern hemisphere

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13
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Hydrobatidae?

A

Storm petrels:
- Smallest seabirds
- Nest in burrows and crevices
- Low wing loading

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14
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the order Pelecaniformes?

A
  • 4 toes connected by Webbs
  • Salt glands
  • Slit-like external nostrils
  • Gular pouch (except in tropicbirds)
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15
Q

How many families are within the order Pelecaniformes?

A

5

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16
Q

What are the 5 families within the order Pelecaniformes?

A

1.Phaethontidae
2. Pelicanidae
3. Fregatidae
4. Sulidae
5. Phalacrocoracidae

17
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Phaethontidae?

A

Tropicbirds:
- Long tail streamers
- Plunge divers or surface feeders
- Pan-tropical distribution

18
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Pelecanidae?

A

Pelicans:
- Extensible membrane in the floor of the lower mandible
- Plunge-divers / surface dippers
- Warm temps.
- Subtropical areas in northern hemisphere

19
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Fregatidae?

A

Frigatebirds:
- Pan-tropical distribution
- Huge broad wings
- Hovering
- Kleptoparasitic
- NEVER sit on or enter the water
- Soar on thermals

20
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Sulidae?

A

Boobies and gannets:
- Long strong tapering bills
- Brightly colored facial skin, feet, and bills

21
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Phalacrocoracidae?

A

Comorants:
- Mostly black, long necks, short broad wings
- Foot propelled underwater swimming
- Coastal feeders

22
Q

How many families are within the order Charadriiformes?

A

4

23
Q

What are the 4 families within the order Charadriiformes?

A
  1. Stercorariidae
  2. Laridae
  3. Rhynchopidae
  4. Alcidae
24
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Stercorariidae?

A

Skuas:
- Breed exclusively in high latitudes
- Partial Kleptoparasites

25
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Laridae?

A
  • Gulls and terns
  • Forked tails
26
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Rhynchopidae?

A

Skimmers:
- Uneven bills: Lower mandible longer than upper mandible
- 3 species

27
Q

What are the defining characteristics of the family Alcidae?

A

Auks:
- Wing-propelled pursuit divers
- Compact bodies
- Northern hemisphere
- Bones are not pneumatic
- Pursuit diving