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Sternum (Breast Bone) of the King Vulture Sarcoramphus papa (MCZ 346960)


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Phylogenic Position
Aves - Neognathae - Incertae sedis - Cathartidae - Sarcoramphus - Sarcoramphus papa
Species Description
The King Vulture is, apart from the condors, the largest of the New World vultures. The only surviving member of its genus, it lives predominantly in the tropical lowland forests of southern Mexico down to northern Argentina. The King Vulture subsists solely on carrion, and is not known to kill sick or dying animals; it also plays an important role in the hierarchy of scavengers, often making the first cut into a carcass (cutting through tough hides that smaller scavengers cannot penetrate). While the King Vulture has excellent eyesight, it also has a keen sense of smell, which it uses to detect food. It also possesses a rasp-like tongue, which aids in removing flesh from bone. The King Vulture is an expect glider, and can soar for hours without flapping its wings. Like most scavenging birds, it lacks feathers on its head and neck, but it distinguishable by the brightly colored skin, as well as by the fleshy yellow carbuncle on the beak.
Specimen Information
Species Sarcoramphus papa (King Vulture)
Element Sternum (Breast Bone)
Specimen Number MCZ 346960
Sex
Location
Geological Age Recent
 
Technical Information
Scanner Roland Picza
Resolution 100 µm
Number of Data Points 88582
Number of Data Polygons 177092
Date Scanned May 29, 2008
Scan Technician Rachael Martinez
Edited By Rachael Martinez
 
Photographs


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Download Digital Model Size
STL File Not Publicly Available 8.9 MB
Other Sarcoramphus papa (King Vulture) Elements
Specimen Element
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