Zoology assignment

Topic
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
What are defined to be Aves?
Aves are most popularly known as birds. Under the kingdom Animalia, birds are described to be warm-blooded
vertebrates, feathered, winged, having beaked jaws and layers of hard-shell eggs. There are about 10,000
species of Aves worldwide occupying almost all earth’s habitats (Biology Online, 2023). This species is of
many and each have their differences and similarities that assist in their survival.

Scientific name: Aves

Class: Aves
Domain: Eukaryote
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata

Introduction
- Compare the characteristics of major phyla of animals
- Classify into major groups
Classify Aves into major groups:
Subclass Neornithes:
This subclass includes all modern birds, excluding extinct species.
Infraclass Palaeognathae:
Contains flightless birds with unique features in their palate structure.
Includes orders such as Struthioniformes (ostriches, emus) and Tinamiformes (tinamous).
Infraclass Neognathae:

Further divided into two superorders:

Superorder Galloanserae:

Includes birds with a distinctive palate structure.

Contains orders like Galliformes (chickens, turkeys) and

Anseriformes (ducks, geese).

Superorder Neoaves:

Contains the majority of modern bird species.

Includes diverse orders like Passeriformes (perching birds), Falconiformes (falcons), Psittaciformes (parrots),
and many others.
-

Compare the characteristics of major phyla of animals:

1. Chordata (including Aves):
- Possess a notochord, dorsal nerve cord, or thyroid gland, and a post-anal tail at some point in their
development.
- Have a closed circulatory system with a heart.
- Most are bilaterally symmetrical.
- Aves within Chordata are characterized by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, a high metabolic rate, and
laying hard-shelled eggs.

2. Arthropoda:
- Have segmented bodies, jointed appendages, and exoskeletons made of chitin.
- Most have an open circulatory system with a dorsal heart.
- Many exhibit metamorphosis during their life cycle.

3. Mollusca:
- Have a soft body often enclosed in a shell.
- Most possess a radula, a rasping organ used for feeding.
- Include diverse forms such as snails, clams, squids, and octopuses.
 4. Annelida:
- Segmented worms with a body divided into repeated segments.
- Have a closed circulatory system with a dorsal and ventral blood vessel.
- Many are terrestrial or aquatic, with diverse feeding strategies.

5. Echinodermata:
- Marine animals with a spiny skin and a water vascular system.
- Exhibit radial symmetry as adults.
- Include organisms such as sea stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers.

Classifying birds (Aves) into major groups involves organizing them into categories based on shared
characteristics, evolutionary relationships, and taxonomic criteria. Here's a simplified breakdown of how
birds are typically classified into major groups:

1. Class Aves: This is the primary classification for all birds.

2. Subclass Neornithes: This subclass includes all modern birds, excluding extinct species.

3. Infraclass Palaeognathae: This group contains flightless birds with unique features in their palate
structure. It includes two orders:
- Order Struthioniformes: Includes ostriches, emus, rheas, cassowaries, and kiwis.
- Order Tinamiformes: Comprises tinamous, which are small to medium-sized ground-dwelling birds
found in Central and South America.

4. Infraclass Neognathae: This group includes the vast majority of modern bird species and is further
divided into two superorders:

- Superorder Galloanserae: Includes birds with a distinctive palate structure and includes two orders:
- Order Galliformes: Comprises birds such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quails, and grouse.
- Order Anseriformes: Includes waterfowl such as ducks, geese, and swans.

- **Superorder Neoaves**: This is a diverse group that contains the majority of modern bird species
and is further divided into numerous orders, including but not limited to:
- **Order Falconiformes**: Falcons and caracaras.
- **Order Psittaciformes**: Parrots, macaws, cockatoos, and parakeets.
 - **Order Passeriformes**: The largest order of birds, including perching birds such as sparrows,
finches, robins, and warblers.
- **Order Columbiformes**: Pigeons and doves.
- **Order Strigiformes**: Owls.
- **Order Accipitriformes**: Eagles, hawks, kites, and vultures.
- **Order Apodiformes**: Swifts and hummingbirds.
- **Order Charadriiformes**: Shorebirds, gulls, terns, and auks.

This classification system provides a hierarchical framework for organizing birds into major groups
based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships. It's important to note that taxonomy is
dynamic, and as new research emerges, classifications may be revised to reflect updated understanding of
evolutionary relationships among bird species.

Classification
Taxonomy
The taxonomy of Aves, majorly known as birds, is the classification system used to categorize bird species
based on their evolutionary relationships, anatomical features, behavior, and genetic similarities and differences
to help familiarize with each one as they are listed under one class. Here, a specific structure will be used to
represent the taxonomy of this species which would include several levels of hierarchy such as: domain,
kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species as it applies to birds.
Scientific name: Aves
Domain: Eukaryote – this includes organisms with cells that contain membrane-bound organelles and a present
nucleus.
Kingdom: Animalia – are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms that are able to freely consume organic matter,
move, reproduce sexually and breathe oxygen.
Phylum: Chordata – animals with backbone. It includes mammals, reptiles, fishes, amphibians, and main focus
which are birds.
Class: Aves – members consist of all birds. Birds are found with similar features such as feathers, toothless
beaked jaws, laying hard-shelled eggs, winged (except the elephant bird and moa), four-chambered heart.
General characteristics of Aves:
- Feathers are easily one of the most recognizable features for birds to have. All birds have feathers that
are modified for various reasons. This included water-proof feathers on ducks to help them travel in
water and not drown. Vibrantly colored features used to attract a mate. Feathers to keep them warm.
Feathers to facilitate flying.
- Modified beaks with no teeth. Each bird’s beak typically adapts to their means of eating, defending and
movement such as building nests. For example, the parrot has a big and curved upper beak which
facilitate cracking nuts. So, the beak may depend on the bird’s diet.
- Wings equip the birds with their own means of transportation, flattery for a mate and warmth for itself
and offsprings. Some birds are not able to fly and thus move on foot and most likely stays within their
community.
- Aves have a lightweight skeletal structure that makes it easy to fly. Their bones are pneumatic which
means the bones are hollow and filled with air this makes them have reduced weight and helps in gas
exchange. Birds have a four-chambered heart and efficient respiratory system, with air sacs for
continuous airflow
- They are bipedal (uses two legs for walking). Warm-blooded. Vertebrates.
- Some species do not have a gallbladder such as pigeon. Though, All Aves have a gizzard and crop in
their alimentary canal to crush and soften the food they have unique digestive system to make digestion
easier for them.
- Their circulatory system consists of a four-chambered heart which is similar to that of humans.
Along with spongy lungs
- Birds exhibit diverse reproductive strategies, including monogamy, polygamy, and communal nesting.
Most birds lay eggs, which are incubated by one or both parents. While some species exhibit elaborate
courtship displays and mating rituals
- Birds play vital roles in ecosystems as pollinators, seed dispersers, predators, and prey. They contribute
to nutrient cycling and help control insect populations. Some species have specialized ecological niches,
such as scavengers or migratory species.
- They have a wide range of behaviors, including foraging, nesting, singing, and territorial defense. Social
structures vary, from solitary species to highly social groups as sometimes they may travel in pairs or
groups. Migration is a common behavior in many bird species, driven by seasonal changes and resource
availability as they move from one place to another whether for mating or suitable environment for
survival.
Birds may also have cultural significance in many societies, symbolizing freedom, beauty, and spirituality.
They are economically important for ecotourism, birdwatching, and pest control services.
However, human activities also pose significant threats to bird populations, including habitat destruction, pollution, and
climate change.

-
As we conclude the class of Aves, the classification continues further into the order, family, genus, and
species of this particular organism.

Birds are found in up to 23 orders while they do share similar characteristics.

The orders are then further divided into families in which there are 142 families in the Class Aves. The family
designation is usually indicated by ending in “dae”. For example, the order Apodiformes is divided into the
families of: Apodidae (typical swifts) and Hemiodontidae (crested swifts). And within you will find the genus,
of which there are about 2,057 in the Class Aves.
There are more than 11,000 species, each with their own unique appearance and habits. Birds can be found I
various ecosystems all over the world. They can be located in tropical regions, temperate, polar, dry or
continental. And reside in many places ranging from building areas, farmland, ponds, forestland, grassland,
rural areas and more with different styles of nests. [Link]
For example, there about 340 species of hummingbirds and can be found in places from Tierra Del Fuego,
southern Alaska and from below sea level deserts to steamy tropical forests with elevations of up to 16,000 feet
in the Andes of South America. Mainly residing in the tropics.
[Link]
Other facts include:
Instead of sucking nectar, they have long tongues that reach the length of their beak to grab the nectar and pull it
into their mouth.
They mate just like every other bird but the male makes use of his vibrant colors to attract a female.
Their nest is quite small and usually looks like a small bump of fungus on a tree.
They can fly backwards.
Smallest bird that migrates.

KINGDOM Animalia
Chordata
PHYLUM
(animals with notochords)
SUBPHYLUM Vertebrata
 (animals whose spinal nerve is
protected by vertebrae of bone or
cartilage)
Aves
CLASS
(birds)
Apodiformes
ORDER
(swifts & hummingbirds)
Trochilidae
FAMILY
(hummingbirds)
GENUS Archilochus
SPECIES (specific epithet) colubris

Taxonomy provides a systematic framework for organizing and categorizing the vast diversity of bird
species, facilitating scientific study, conservation efforts, and communication among researchers. It's
worth noting that taxonomy is dynamic, and classifications may be revised as new evidence emerges from
fields such as genetics, morphology, and behavior.

Subclass:
Archaeornithes
These refer extinct birds dating back to the prehistoric times. They are majorly considered to have beaks with
teeth and long coarse tails differentiating them from modern day birds.
For example, the Archaeopteryx a type of dinosaur bird which seemed to exist about 150.8 million years ago -
125.45 million years ago (Tithonian - Barremian)
Neornithes
These refer to birds that exist now and even some that are extinct. There are about 9,000 to 10,000 known living
species in the world. They are the most recent ancestor of all living birds. Unlike Archaeornithes they do not
have teeth on their beak nor long tails. For example, the Emu, Shoebill, Sandhill crane and more.

Emu bird (flightless)

Shoebill
Sandhill crane

1. Order Passeriformes (songbirds, or perching birds)

2. Order Apodiformes (swifts, hummingbirds)
3. Order Piciformes (woodpeckers and allies)
4. Order Charadriiformes (gulls, sandpipers, auks, and allies)
5. Order Pteroclidiformes (sandgrouse)
6. Order Psittaciformes (parrots, lorikeets, cockatoos, kea, and kakapo)
7. Order Columbiformes (pigeons and doves)
8. Order Falconiformes (diurnal birds)
9. Order Galliformes (chickenlike birds)
10. Order Gruiformes (cranes and allies)
11. Order Procellariiformes (tubenose seabirds)
12. Order Coraciiforms (kingfishers and allies)
13. Order Strigiformes (owls)
14. Order Mitophagosomes (turacos)
15. Order Cuculiformes (cuckoos and allies)
16. Order Anseriformes (screamers, waterfowl)
17. Order Ciconiiformes (herons, storks, and allies)
18. Order Caprimulgiformes (nightjars)
19. Order Pelecaniformes (pelicans and allies)
20. Order Tinamiformes (tinamous)
21. Order Sphenisciformes (penguins)
22. Order Coliiformes (colies, or mousebirds)
23. Order Struthioniformes (ostriches, rheas, emus, cassowaries, and kiwis)
Economic Importance
Conclusion
Recommendations
Future Directions:
In the future research there should be interest in understanding climate change and efficiently develop strategies
that will create healthy environments for these animals to reside and flourish the earth. There should be means
or reducing pollution and any wastage of material that can later pose as harmful to the surroundings. A healthy
environment will result in healthy residents in terms of mental and physical attributes. Then the animals would
not have to suffer because of the lack of essentials.
Learning about these occurrences should encourage the advancement in technology and offers new
opportunities for studying bird behavior, ecology, and evolution.
With new knowledge gained in can be used to provide scientific papers, books, and online resources for
audience members interested in learning more about birds and their biology.
Certainly! Here are short and informative recommendations related to birds (Aves):

1. Create Bird-Friendly Spaces: Plant native vegetation, provide water sources, and minimize pesticide use to
attract and support bird populations in your backyard or community.

2. Practice Responsible Birding: Observe birds from a distance, avoid disturbing nesting sites, and follow
ethical guidelines when birdwatching or engaging in bird photography.

4. Advocate for Bird-Friendly Policies: Support legislation and regulations that protect bird habitats, reduce
threats, and promote sustainable development practices.

6. Educate Others About Birds: Share your passion for birds through presentations, workshops, and community
outreach to raise awareness and inspire conservation action.

7. Support Research and Monitoring: Volunteer for bird banding programs, participate in bird surveys, or
donate to research projects focused on avian ecology and conservation.

8. Engage with Bird-Friendly Businesses: Support businesses that prioritize bird-friendly practices, such as
sustainable agriculture, responsible forestry, and eco-friendly tourism.

9. Encourage Youth Engagement: Provide opportunities for outdoor exploration, birdwatching, and
environmental education to foster a love of birds and nature in younger generations.

10. Protect and Restore Habitats: Support organizations and initiatives dedicated to conserving and restoring
natural habitats critical for bird populations, including forests, wetlands, and coastal areas.

These recommendations provide actionable steps for individuals and communities to contribute to bird
conservation efforts and promote the well-being of avian species.
  Many bird species are known for eating bugs. But did you know they are essentially helpful in pest
control? For example, the swallow bird eats many kinds of insect and even those who are destroying
crop. This way it reduces the need for chemical pesticides that may affect the value of the environment
and be of cost.
Another major importance of birds is their role in pollination and seed dispersal. The specific species of birds
that feed on flowers such as hummingbirds or the birds that eat fruits all have ways in which they help plants
reproduce. This is possible when the birds land on many flowers or consuming fruits and berries to then
disperse the seeds over wide areas through their droppings. This is helpful to regenerate forests, maintain plant
diversity for agricultural crops as it contributes to agricultural productivity and ensures food security.

4. Tourism: leads to birdwatching and bird tourism which are significant contributors to local economies
worldwide. Birdwatchers travel to various destinations to observe and photograph birds in their natural habitats,
generating revenue for accommodations, tour guides, and local businesses. Protected areas with diverse birdlife
often attract ecotourists, providing opportunities for sustainable economic development.
Additionally, recreational hunting of certain bird species contributes to local economies through the sale of
hunting licenses, equipment, and related services. Which encourages birding competitions and festivals, attract
participants and spectators, boosting tourism revenues in rural areas.

Research and Education: Birds serve as valuable subjects for scientific research and education, contributing to
advancements in fields such as ecology, behavior, physiology, and conservation biology. Funding for bird-
related research supports academic institutions, research organizations, and conservation initiatives, stimulating
innovation.

Cultural Value: Birds hold cultural significance in many societies, inspiring art, literature, folklore, and spiritual
beliefs. Their beauty, diversity, and captivating behaviors enrich human lives, fostering appreciation for the
natural world and promoting environmental stewardship.

Overall, the economic importance of birds underscores the interconnectedness between ecosystems, human
well-being, and sustainable development. By recognizing and conserving avian biodiversity, we can safeguard
these invaluable economic benefits for present and future generations.

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[Link]

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