INTRODUCTORY

VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY

Module 5

CLASS AVES
SCOPE OF THE LECTURE
We will discuss about:
1.General Characteristic of Class
Aves
2.Flight Adaptations in Class Aves
3.Classifications.
 DEFINITION
Birds are bipedal feathered and warm
blooded (homoiothermous) animals i.e.,
they are able to maintain a constant body
temperature.

Their fore-limbs are modified into wings.

Most of them can fly except flightless
birds (e.g., Ostrich).

Class Aves has about 9000 species.

 General characters:

1. The hind-limbs are adapted for perching, walking or

swimming, etc., and usually bear four, sometimes
three and rarely two toes.

2. Except uropygium gland (preen gland or oil gland),

at the base of the tail, no skin gland is present.
Ostrich and parrot lack oil gland.
 General characters:

3. The upper and lower jaws are modified into

beak, which lacks teeth. Beaks are adapted to
many ways of feeding; seed-crushing, fruit-
scooping, flesh-tearing, nector-sip- ping,
wood-chiselling and so on.

4. Legs are modified for walking, hopping,

grasping, perching, wading and swimming.
Legs bear homy epidermal scales.
General characters:

5. The alimentary canal has additional

chambers, the crop and gizzard. The crop
stores and softens the food; however, the
gizzard helps in crushing and churning the
food.
There is a cloacal aperture. Gall bladder is
absent in some seed-eating birds
(graminivorous) such as pigeons.
 General characters:

6. Respiration is by lungs. The lungs are spongy and

inelastic. Air sacs are connected to lungs for
supplement respiration. The larynx does not act as
a voice box. Voice is produced by a special organ,
the syrinx.

7. The heart is four-chambered. Sinus venosus is

absent. Renal portal system is very much reduced.
Red blood corpuscles are nucleated, oval and
biconvex.
 General characters:

8. The kidneys are metanephric which drain the

nitrogenous waste matter (chiefly uric acid) into
cloaca through the ureters. Urinary bladder is absent
except Rhea Americana (American Rhea— also
called “South American Ostrich”. This is the only
bird that has urinary bladder).

9. Brain is better developed than that of reptiles, of

which cerebrum, cerebellum and optic lobes are quite
large.
 General characters:

10. Birds have 12 pairs of cranial nerves.

11. Birds have a keen sense of sight but poor

sense of smell but kiwi has good sense of
smell. Pecten is present in the eyes of birds.
Ear openings are present. Each ear consists of
three parts: external, middle and internal.
 General characters:

12. Endoskeleton is fully ossified (bony) and the long

bones are hollow with air cavities (pneumatic) to
reduce weight. There is no bone marrow. The skull is
monocondyllc, i.e., with one occipital condyle.
Sternum with a median keel for the attachment of
flight muscles.

13. Female has usually well developed single left

ovary and oviduct. If right ovary and oviduct are
present, they are vestigial (nonfunctional).
 General characters:

14. Many birds show sexual dimorphism. All

birds are oviparous. Like reptiles birds lay
cleidoic eggs which are macrolecithal and
calcareous. Four embryonic membranes (e.g.,
chorion, amnion, allantois and yolk sac) are
formed.

15. The birds are the most beautiful among the

animals. They show courtship, nest building,
parental care, migration and territorial
behaviour.
Flight Adaptations in Class Aves:

1. Spindle-Shaped Body:
It is designed to offer minimum resistance to
the wind.
2. Feathers:
They provide the passage for air and reduce
friction to minimum. They also prevent
loss of heat and help to maintain a constant
temperature.
Flight Adaptations in Class Aves:

3. Wings: Fore-limbs are modified into wings,

which help during flight.
4. Beak:
Besides procurement of food, the beak is also
used for nest-building.
5. Neck and Head: Mobile neck and head are
very useful for feeding, nest building, offence
and defense.
Flight Adaptations in Class Aves:

6. Flight Muscles: The flight muscles on the

breast are greatly developed which help in
flight.
7. Hind Limbs (Legs):They are well suited for
perching.

8. Endoskeleton: Most of bones are pneumatic

and filled with air instead of bone marrow. It
makes the body light. Most of bones are firmly
fused together, which help in flight.
Flight Adaptations in Class Aves:
9. Air Sacs:
These are attached to lungs which serve as reservoirs of
air. They may also aid as cooling devices in regulation
of the temperature of the body.

10. Warm-Bloodedness:
Birds are warm-blooded animals which is necessary for
flight.

11. Circulatory System: A large oxygen supply is

required for rapid metabolism and warm-bloodedness. It
is done by an efficient circulatory system.
Flight Adaptations in Class Aves:

12. Absence of Urinary Bladder:

Except Rhea, urinary bladder is absent in birds. Excreta
are passed out at once. This helps in reducing the weight
of the body.

13. Brain and Eyes:

Brain and eyes are well developed. Equilibrium is
maintained by well developed cerebellum of the brain.

14. Single Ovary:

Presence of a single functional ovary on the left side in
the female bird also leads to reduction of weight which
is so essential for flight.
 Classifications of Class Aves:
Class Aves is divided into two subclasses:
Subclass I. Archaeornithes:
Extinct, toothed beak, tail long lizard-like e.g.,
Archaeop­teryx

Subclass II. Neornithes:

Modern as well as extinct birds, teeth absent,
tail short
 1. Sub class Archeornithes:
In this subclass extinct birds are included. Those
birds were alive in Mesozoic era.
These show a long tail with 13 or more than 13
caudal vertebrae.
Pygostyle is absent.
Meta carpals are free. The free fingers of fore limb
will end with claws.
Thecodont teeth are seen.
 Subclass Archiornithes:
Mesozoic ancestral or lizard birds with long
tail and teeth in both the jaws.
Order Archaeopterygiformes:
1. Forelimbs bear remiges.
2. Tail long with many vertebrae, which
gradually taper to the distal end. The rec­trices
are arranged in two lateral rows on each side
of the caudal vertebrae.
3. The carpals and metacarpals free and hand
with three clawed digits.
4. The eyes were large.
 Order Archaeopterygiformes:
5. The skull proportionately large, with a rounded
bird-like brain case and strong jaws, in each of
which hearing a series of conical teeth lodged in
socket.
6. Enamelled crowned teeth on both the jaws.
7. The sacrum made up of only about six vertebrae.
8. The cervical and thoracic ribs probably devoid of
uncinates. Thin abdominal ribs or gastralia or so-
called ventral ribs were on ventral wall of abdomen.
9. The cerebral hemispheres smooth, long and
narrow and cerebellum small.
Examples: Archaeopteryx lithographica,
Archaeornis siemensi.
 2. Sub class Neornithes:
This subclass includes both extant and
extinct birds.

Tail ends in pygostyle. The rectrices are

arranged r a semi circular around pygostyle.

Teeth are absent in many forms.

Sternum is well developed. It shows a keel to

which flight muscles are attached.
 Sub class Neornithes
This subclass is divided into 4 super
orders.
Odontognathae
Palaeognathe
Impennae
Neognathae
Super Order: Palaeognathae
1. Super Order: Palaeognathae:
These are flightless birds.
They are more in numbers.
Wings are reduced or absent.
Teeth are absent.
Caudal vertebrae are free.
This super order is divisible into 7 orders.
1. Order: Struthioni:
Large flight-less bird.
Feathers are less.
They show two toed hind limbs.
Sternum is without keel.
Neck is very long and flexible.
Pygostyle is absent.
These birds are good runners.
Ex: Struthio camelus (Two toed African Ostrich (or) Ostrich)
 2. Order: Rheiforms:

1. This includes flightless, terrestrial bird.

2. They are good runners.
3. Wings are better developed.
4. The body shows more feathers.
5. The hind limb bear three toes.
6. Sternum is without keel.
Rhea americana. (three toed (or) American ostrich).
 3. Order: Casuariformes:

These are flightless terrestrial birds.

Head shows few feathers.
Neck and body show more feathers.
Wings are Rudimentus.
The hind limb shows three toes.
Ex: Casuarius (Casso waries), Dromaeus (Emu)
 4. Order: Aepyomithiformes:

These are extinct elephant birds.

Wings are vestigeal.
Legs are powerful.
Hind limbs show 4 toes.
Sternum is broad.
Keel is absent.
Eggs are very big.

Ex: Aepyornis.
 5. Order: Dinomithiformes:

These are gaint flightless extinct birds.

Wings are absent.
Eggs are massive.
Sternum is reduced without keel.
Pectoral girdle is absent.

Ex: Dinornis (Extinct Moas)

 6. Order: Apternygiformes:

These are flightless, terrestrial birds.

Wings are rudimentary.
Eyes are small.
Neck and legs ve small.
Hind limbs bear 4 toes.
These are Nocturnal. They feed on insects.
Eggs are largest relatively.
These are present only in Newzeland and Australia.

Ex: Apteryx (Kiwi), Newzealand bird

 7. Order: Tinamiformes:
These are small, terrestrial with little power of flight.
Wings are short and round.
Pygostyle is reduced.
Eggs are big.
They eat plant products.

Ex: Tinamus.
 2. Super Order: Impennae:

This super order includes flightless aquatic

birds.

Their foreKmbs are modified into paddles.

This super order includes only one order.

1. Order: Sphenisci formes
(SPHENISCI FORMES):

These are flightless aquatic birds.

Feathers are small scale like. They cover the. entire
body.
Forelimbs are modified into paddles. They are useful
for swimming
Limbs are 4 toes.
Below the skin thick layer of fat will be present.

Ex: Aptenodyts (Penguin)

Ex: Aptenodyts (Penguin)
3. Super Order: Neognathae:

This sub order includes modern flying birds.

Teeth are absent.
Wings are well developed.
Sternum shows keel.
Flight muscles are well devebped.
Pygostyle is present.

This super order is divisible into 21orders.

1. Order: Gaviformea

Ex: Gavia immer (Common loon)

These birds show powerful fight
Toes are webbed.

2. Order: Podlcipit formes:

Ex: Podiceps.
These are fresh water birds.
Feet are lobed.

3. Order: Procellariiformes:

Ex: Puffinus (Petrels, Diomedia ) ( Wandering albatross)

Skull shows large nasal gland.
Feathers are compact.
Wings are long and narrow.
4. Order: Pelecaniformee:

Ex: Pelecanus (Pelecan)

Aquatic fish eating birds.
Four toes are webbed.

5. Order: Clconiformee:

Ex: Ardea (great blue heron)

Neck is long and Legs are long
Web is absent.

6. Order: Ariseriformea:

Ex: Anser domesticus (Duck), Cygnus (swan)

Beak is broad.
Tongue is fleshy.
Legs are short.
Feet are webbed.
7. Order: Faiconl forme:
Ex: Mihms migrans (Kite). Pseudogyps (Vulture)
Beak is short and curved.
Feet show curved daws.
They are strong fleers.

8. Order: Galliforroea:
Ex: GaOus (Jungle Fowl), Pavo cristatus (Peacock)
Beak is short.
Terrestrial birds.
They will fly.

9. Order: Gruiformes:
Ex: Grus (crane)
They are small or medium large-size birds.
They may be weak or strong fliers.
Legs are long.

10. Order: Diatrymiformee:

These are extinct birds.
11. Order: Chardriiforrae:
Ex: Larus (Gull)
Shore dwelling aquatic birds.
Toes are webbed.
12. Order: Columbiformes:
Ex: 1. Columba livia (Pigeon), 2. Sterptopelia (Dove)
Skin thick and soft.
Beak is usually short and slender.
Crop produces pigeon milk to feed the young ones.
13. Order: Cuculiformee:
Ex: 1. Cuculus (cuckoo), 2. Eudynamis (Koel)
Many Cuckoos are parasites.
The females lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
The toes are four in number.
Tail is long.
14. Order: Paitiaciforme:
Ex: Psittacula eupatra (Parra keet)
Feathers are green, blue, yellow.
Beak is short and curved.
Frugivorus forms.
15. Order: Strlgiformes:
Ex: Bubo bubo (green horned owl)
Head is large and narrow.
Retina contains many rods. Hence it can see in the night time.
They are nocturnal predators.

16. Order: Caprimulgiformee:

Ex: Caprinulgus (Night jar)
Legs are weak.
Beak is small.

17. Order: Apodiformes:

Ex: Swift (Humming bird)
These are small birds.
They are powerful fliers.

18. Order: Coliifbrmee:

Ex: Cobus (Mouse bird)
19. Order: Coraci formes:
Ex : Akedo king fisher and hornbill
Beak is strong. It is useful to catch fishes.
Third and Fourth toes are fused at the base.

20. Order: Piciforme:

Ex: Brachypternus (Wood pecker), Dinopium (Wood pecker)
Tail feathers are pointed.
Beak is stout.

21. Order: Passed formes:

Ex: 1 Passer domesticus (Sparrow), Corvus (Crow),
Acridotherus (Myna)