Text Questions: Chapter 1

Question 1

Identify 6 anatomical features of birds associated with flight

Answer 1

• Pneumatic or lightweight bones
• Strengthened skeleton: fusion of bones; hands, head, pelvis, and feet
• Uncinate processes of ribs overlap and strengthen the walls of the body
• Furcula: rebounds like a spring in rhythm with the wings
• Carpometacarpus (fused hand bones): support and maneuvers primary flight feathers
• Ankle joint is positioned in middle of foot
• Fused leg bones: Tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus

Question 2

How does the structure of the legs helps maintain the center of gravity of most birds over and between the feet.

Answer 2

• Fusion of the leg bones (tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus)
• Equal length of these bones
• Ankle joint is positioned in middle of the foot
• Center of gravity is positioned directly over and between it’s feet

Question 3

How are the reproductive systems of birds unusual?

Answer 3

• Large, external eggs
• Large yolk (nutrition)
• Protected by hard, calcium, carbonate shell
• Dedicated parental care
• Many monogamous, some not
• Eggs may be from more than one male or female in a nest

Question 4

Convergence

Answer 4

independent evolution of similar adaptations in unrelated organisms

Question 5

Explain, using examples of auks and penguins how convergence (be sure to know definition) illustrates the power of natural selection.

Answer 5

Auks-northern ocean (related to gulls)
Penguins-Southern ocean (related to petrels)
-Flightless birds that use wings to propel themselves in water

Question 6

Identify the six major biogeographic regions of the world and if applicable, be able to give a common name of representative non-passerine birds.

Answer 6

• Nearctic and Palearctic: Waxwings and loons
• Afrotropical: Guineafowl, turacos
• Australasian: Emu, birds of paradise
• Indomalayan: fariy blue birds, leaf birds