Lappet-faced vulture: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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The '''lappet-faced vulture''' or ''' Nubian vulture''' ('''''Torgos tracheliotos''''') is an [[Old World vulture]] belonging to the [[bird]] order [[Accipitriformes]], which also includes [[eagle]]s, [[kite (bird)|kite]]s, [[buzzard]]s and [[hawk]]s. It is the only member of the genus '''''Torgos'''''. It is not closely related to the superficially similar [[New World vulture]]s, and does not share the good sense of smell of some members of that [[Family (biology)|family]] of birds.

The lappet-faced vulture was formerly considered [[monotypic]]al, but now is separated into two [[subspecies]]. The nominate race lives throughout [[Africa]]. The subspecies ''T. t. negevensis'', differing considerably in appearance from African vultures (as described below) is endemic to the [[Arabian peninsulaPeninsula]].

== Name ==

The scientific name is Greek, meaning "Cartilage-eared Vulture".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Colombo and Beltramini|first=Gianfranco and Mario|title=Torgos tracheliotus|url=https://www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/torgos-tracheliotus/?lang=en|website=www.monaconatureencyclopedia.com/|date=24 April 2012 }}</ref>

==Distribution==

This species is patchily distributed through much of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, though it is absent from much of the central and western parts of the continent and declining elsewhere in its range. The lappet-faced vulture breeds in Senegal, Mali, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. On the Arabian Peninsula, it breeds in Yemen, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. It is also present in Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Benin, the Central African Republic and Angola,<ref name="iucn status 19 November 2021" /> as well as a single vagrant record in [[Kuwait]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.birdsofkuwait.com/21082008-at-tulha/ | title= birdsofkuwait| date= 21 May 2008}}</ref>

==Habitat==

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The lappet-faced vulture is a very large species, ranking as the longest and largest winged vulture in its range, behind the closely related [[cinereous vulture]], although some co-occurring ''[[Gyps]]'' vultures tend to be heavier on average, especially the [[Cape vulture]] and [[Eurasian griffon]].<ref name=RaptorsWorld>{{citation |last1=Ferguson-Lees |first1=James |author-link=James Ferguson-Lees |last2=Christie |first2=David A. |year=2001 |title=Raptors of the World |publisher=[[Houghton-Mifflin Company]] |isbn=978-0-618-12762-7}}</ref> This species measures around {{convert|95|–|115|cm|in|abbr=on}} in body length, with a wingspan of {{convert|2.5|–|2.9|m|ft|abbr=on}}. Among the standard measurements, the [[Wing chord (biology)|wing chord]] is {{convert|71.5|-|82.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}, the [[tail]] is {{convert|33|-|36|cm|in|abbr=on}} and the [[Tarsus (skeleton)|tarsus]] is {{convert|12.2|-|15|cm|in|abbr=on}}.<ref name=RaptorsWorld/> The bill, at up to {{convert|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|5|cm|in|abbr=on}} deep, ranks as one of the largest of any [[Accipitridae|accipitrid]], although a reported [[Culmen (bird)|culmen]] length of {{convert|7.2|cm|in|abbr=on}} is slightly less than the culmen length of the cinereous vulture.<ref name=RaptorsWorld/><ref>{{cite journal |author=Hardy, Eric |year=1947 |url=http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/auk/v064n03/p0471-p0472.pdf |title=The Northern Lappet-faced Vulture in Palestine—A new record for Asia |journal=[[The Auk]] |volume=64 |issue=3 |pages=471–472 |doi=10.2307/4080421|jstor=4080421 }}</ref> Wild vultures of the subspecies ''T. t. tracheliotus'' range from {{convert|4.4|to|9.4|kg|lb|abbr=on}} and in [[East Africa]], average only {{convert|6.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{citation |url=http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Torgos_tracheliotos/more_info.html?section=factsAndStatus |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717181043/http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/birds/Torgos_tracheliotos/more_info.html?section=factsAndStatus |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-17 |title=Lappet-faced vulture videos, photos and facts – Torgos tracheliotos |publisher=[[ARKive]] |access-date=2012-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{citation |url=http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/3881/lappetvulture.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024013825/http://geocities.com/RainForest/3881/lappetvulture.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-10-24 |title=Lappet-faced Vulture |publisher=Geocities.com}}</ref> On the other hand, captive vultures of the larger ''T. t. negevensis'' subspecies weighed {{convert|6.5|-|9.2|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in males and {{convert|10.5|-|13.6|kg|lb|abbr=on}} in females.<ref name= RaptorsWorld/>

[[File:2011-07-16 10-00-09 30D (14250372729).jpg|thumb|left| A lappet-faced vulture amongst [[white-backed vulture|white-backed vultures]] and [[Rüppell's vulture|Ruepell’sRuepell's griffons]], illustrating its size]]

Overall, the lappet-faced vulture is blackish above with a strongly contrasting white thigh feathers. The black feathers on the back of African vultures are lined with brown, while Arabian birds are dark brown rather than black above. The underside can range from pure white to buff-brown. Like many vultures, it has a bald head. The head coloration can range from reddish in southern Africa to dull pink in more northern Africa to pink on the back of the head and gray on the front in the Arabian Peninsula.<ref name=RaptorsWorld/> The combination of the colorful head and [[Wattle (anatomy)|fleshy folds]] on the side of it are distinctive. The bald head of the lappet-faced vulture is advantageous, because a feathered head would become spattered with [[blood]] and other fluids when feeding, and thus be difficult to keep clean. While flying, lappet-faced vultures have large, broad wings held with the front edges held parallel and slightly pointed, serrated-looking wingtips. Compared to the somewhat similarly marked [[hooded vulture]], it is considerably larger with a more massive bill and can only be confused at a great distance. The ''Gyps'' vultures are generally much paler, with less white lining the wings and more bulging secondaries. The [[cinereous vulture]] (which may overlap in range in the Arabian area) has a similar body shape but is all dark, with no contrasting plumage.<ref name=RaptorsWorld/>

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==Behaviour==

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=vertical

|image1=Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) -Masaiin Maraflight National Reserve, Kenya-8Kruger.jpg |caption1=Perching in aflight tree inabove [[Masai MaraKruger National ReservePark]], [[KenyaSouth Africa]]

|image2=Vultures scavenge on an elephant kill - journal.pone.0060797.g001-D.png |caption2=Scavenging on an [[African bush elephant|elephant]] carcass together with some [[white-backed vulture]]s

}}

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The lappet-faced vulture is a scavenging bird, feeding mostly from [[animal]] carcasses, which it finds by sight or by watching other [[vulture]]s. More so than many African vultures, they often find carrion on their own and start tearing through the skin. They are the most powerful and aggressive of the [[Africa]]n [[vulture]]s, and other vultures will usually cede a carcass to the lappet-faced vulture if it decides to assert itself. This is often beneficial to the less powerful vultures because the Lappet-face can tear through the tough hides and knotty muscles of large [[mammal]]s that the others cannot penetrate. However [[hyena]]s are even more efficient in this regard (if more voracious eaters). However, lappet-faced vultures frequently hang around the edges of the throngs at large carcasses, waiting until the other vultures are done, to feed on remnant skin, tendons, and other coarse tissues that the others will not eat. Big game animals, up to the size of [[elephant]]s, are preferred as [[carrion]] since they provide the most subsistence at a sitting. A full crop can contain up to {{convert|1.5|kg|lb|abbr=on}} of meat.<ref name=RaptorsWorld/>

Perhaps more than any other true vulture, lappet-faced vultures have been recorded as regularly feeding on freshly killed smaller mammals, birds, and reptiles. Some of these are probably [[Roadkill|road-kills]] or are [[KleptoparatismKleptoparasitism|pirated]] from [[eagle]]s or other raptors but they are also believed to occasionally attack live animals, especially young and weak animals, and the nests and young of other birds. [[Flamingo]] colonies (including eggs, young and adults), young [[impala]]s, and [[guineafowl]] have reportedly been predated. They are believed to still hunt from an elevated perch and then drop on their prey, stunning them with the impact and tearing them apart with their substantial bills. Most remains found at nests are from small animals possibly caught alive.<ref name=RaptorsWorld/>

[[File:Torgos tracheliotus MHNT.ZOO.2010.11.78.7.jpg|thumb| ''Torgos tracheliotus''Egg - [[MHNT]]]]

===Life history===

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{{Vulture}}

{{Accipitrimorphae|A.|state=collapsed}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q838162}}