One of the many definitions of a predator is an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals, or an animal that preys on other animals. Better yet, one that preys, destroys, and devours. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, predation is the pursuit, capture, and killing of animals for food. Excluding Homo sapiens, the animal kingdom has species considered to be top predators in the aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial territory. For instance, the massive great white shark is probably the first animal to be thought of as the top predator of the ocean. However, in 1997, many witnessed an amazing event off the coast of California that changed the perception regarding the position of great white sharks as atop of the aquatic food chain. The
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The longest wingspan of any raptor or birds in general, which measures up to 11 feet, belongs to the Andean condor. Other than its size, one distinct feature that New World vultures share is their baldheads. Besides the common physical characteristic, the reason why vultures are often seen around death is because they specialize in eating carcasses of dead animals, they eat meat but their diet largely consists of bones. The Raptor Research Foundation indicated turkey vultures, with their highly developed sense of smell, allows them to fly over forest canopies to locate hidden carcasses only an hour after the animal has died (“Raptors of the World”, n.d.). Also belonging to this family of raptors are the California condors, which is sadly considered to be part of the endangered species …show more content…
Many of these fast and powerful raptors resides in North and South America while other species inhibit Africa, Central America, and South America, living on open plains, desserts, and mountains. According to the avian field guide All About Birds, the Peregrine falcon is reported to be the fastest bird in the world with the average flight speed of 30 mph and increasing speed to 67 mph when in pursuit. However, the calculated speed that Peregrine falcons can achieve has been recorded to reach 238 mph (“Peregrine Falcon”, n.d.). Although falcons occasionally eat small mammals and reptiles, birds make up the majority of their diet. Not only are falcons known for their speed, but also for their unique hunting skill known as aerial stooping. To explain, the falcon hunt its prey by soaring high above it and stooping down at high speed striking and killing its
The longest wingspan of any raptor or birds in general, which measures up to 11 feet, belongs to the Andean condor. Other than its size, one distinct feature that New World vultures share is their baldheads. Besides the common physical characteristic, the reason why vultures are often seen around death is because they specialize in eating carcasses of dead animals, they eat meat but their diet largely consists of bones. The Raptor Research Foundation indicated turkey vultures, with their highly developed sense of smell, allows them to fly over forest canopies to locate hidden carcasses only an hour after the animal has died (“Raptors of the World”, n.d.). Also belonging to this family of raptors are the California condors, which is sadly considered to be part of the endangered species …show more content…
Many of these fast and powerful raptors resides in North and South America while other species inhibit Africa, Central America, and South America, living on open plains, desserts, and mountains. According to the avian field guide All About Birds, the Peregrine falcon is reported to be the fastest bird in the world with the average flight speed of 30 mph and increasing speed to 67 mph when in pursuit. However, the calculated speed that Peregrine falcons can achieve has been recorded to reach 238 mph (“Peregrine Falcon”, n.d.). Although falcons occasionally eat small mammals and reptiles, birds make up the majority of their diet. Not only are falcons known for their speed, but also for their unique hunting skill known as aerial stooping. To explain, the falcon hunt its prey by soaring high above it and stooping down at high speed striking and killing its