Department of Zoology at ANDC/Zoology Museum/Museum specimens/Aves

Class Aves Date & Time : 19, April 2024 09:22 General Characteristics of Aves warm blooded animals. no skin glands except uropigial glands. feathers as exoskeleton. fore limbs are modified into wings. hind limbs are adapted tfor walking. the bones are spongy. skull is monocondylic. lower jaw contain 5 or 6 bones. double headed vertebral ribs. The ankle joint is inter tarsal. lungs are non ditensible. Syrinx produce the voice. no vocal cord in lyrinx. heart is 4-chambered. R.B.C. are nucleated. sexes are separate. oviparous. Classification of Aves A Few Examples 1. Psittacula Common name-tota in Hindi and parrot in English.. Distribution- found in India, Pakistan, Ceylon, Burma. Food-fruits and ripening grains. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERS- Body-slender-shaped. Body colour-grass green. Body length-about 24 cm. Bill-red in color, short but deeply hooked. Collar-in males, it's color is black and rose pink but absent in females. Feet-adapted for grasping. Tail-long but pointed. It can be taught to repeat some words or sentences. 2. Corvus Common name- House crow in English and kowwa in Hindi. Distribution-found in India, Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma. Habit and habitat- omnivorous. Food- eat  anything like dead rat, eggs, locusts, fruits, grainand termites etc. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERS- Body color- black Body length- 32-42 cm. Neck- grey in color. Legs- consist of 4 clawed toes in which one is directing backwarad and other three are directing inward. They destroy locusts and injurious insects. but they can also  destroy ripeningcrops. They make nests for their living. 3. Columba COMMON NAME-Kabutar in Hindi and rock pigeon in English. DISTRIBUTION-found in India,Pakistan, Ceylon and Burma.  FOOD-cereals,pulses, ground nuts etc. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERS:- Body length- about 34 cm or more. Body color-slaty-grey metallic green and purple. Neck- magenta in color. Wings- two dark bars on wings. Tail- a band is present across the end of the tail. the bird is so familiar to human. The nest is made up of twigs and straw.  4. Coracias Common name- it is called nilkanth in Hindi and blue jay in English. Distribution- found in India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon. Habit and Habitat- like to live in open cultivated country and avoids dense forests. Food- grassshoppers, beetles, and other insects. it can eat lizards, mice, and frogs sometimes. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERS- Body - similar to pigeon in size. Body color-  dark and pale blue portions on wing, the breast is brown,. Head - bigin size, consist of  heavy, black bill. It destroys the injurious pests. The nest is made up of straw, feathers and rubbish in  hole in the trees. 5. Passer Common name- gauriya in Hindi and HOUSE SPARROW IN eNGLISH. Distribution- distributed worldwide except Andmans and Nicobars. Habit and Habitat- like to live in houses and open areas. Food-seeds, grains, wheat, and other cereals etc. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERS- Body- small in size. Body length- about 10-12 cm Body color- earthy brown and underparts are whitish. legs- 4 clawed toes, one is directed backward and other three are directec forwards. the male has black area on throat and breast. It destroys the large number of insects. Nest is made up of straw and rubbish ruffledinto a hole in the wall. 6. Anas Common name- duck in English and buttakh in Hindi. Distribution-found in India, Pakistan and Burma. Habit and Habitat- like to live in fresh water, ponds and pools. Food- wheat, cereals etc. IDENTIFYING CHARACTERS- Body color- white. Neck- long and C- shaped. Beak- broad and flattened. base of the beak is covered by a soft sensitive membrane. Jaws -consist of transverse lamellae on inner surface. plumulae consist of uropigial glands which secrete oily secretion. They do not construct nests.