Condor

When Condor is called the two largest species of the family of New World vultures ( Cathartidae ): the Andean Condor ( Vultur gryphus ) and the California condor ( Gymnogyps californianus ). The two species are not closely related to each other within the family, so do not form a taxon.

Taxonomy

Condor is a Spanish loan word from Quechua kuntur, the Spaniard will, therefore, have the Andean condor registered first.

Both species are now among each a monotypic genus. Prized was the Andean Condor by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The California Condor was built in 1785 ( the pioneer of the classification of Australian wildlife ) described by George Shaw and classified in the relationship of the Andean condor. The separate genus Gymnogyps was then placed only by René Lesson in 1842 independently.

Of the remaining birds of prey (and thus also the ancestors of Old World vulture ), the New World vultures have separated before probably about 40 million years ago ( Palaeolgyps, Phasmagyps, about 35 million years), the differentiation of Andean and California condor is then also relatively old. In fact, the Andean condor is the 3 Cathartes ( turkey, Small and Large Yellow -headed Vulture ) and the California condor closer to Coragyps ( black vulture ), so the similarity of the two species is phenomenologically to see.

From Gymnogyps the fossils of Rancho La Brea Pleistocene (asphalt swamps ) are managed as Gymnogyps amplus (L. H. Miller, 1911), this species was widespread in North America.

Comparison

Except for the markedly different physiognomy, the two birds of prey look quite similar, the Andean condor is but recognizable by its white ruff, the California condor has a black feather ruff. In flight, the bright mirror image of the lower wing of the California condor are clear.

• Head game, stand hunting and flight image