Species Hierarchy
Kingdom ANIMAL (ANIMALIA)
Phylum BACKBONED ANIMALS (CHORDATA)
Class BIRD (AVES)
Order BIRD - LOONS (GAVIIFORMES)
Common name: LOON - RED-THROATED
Scentific name: GAVIA STELLATA

Species Info:

This lifeform is found in northern Eurasia. This lifeform is found in the Yukon Providence or Alaska in North America.

Red Throated Loon (Gavia stellata) is an arctic circumpolar species that winters in the area of the Mediterranean Sea, Mexico and China. The small upturned bill and, frequently, a red area on the front of the neck help to identify this small loon. It is typically about twenty-four inches long.

Loons (Order Gaviiformes) are a group of ancient birds that are found primarily in the northern regions of both the Old and New World. Although the legs of the loons are almost useless on land, their webbed feet make them among the finest swimmers known. It is estimated that loons can dive to depths over 200 feet, and their special body chemistry lets them stay under water for several minutes if needed. Loons have small wings, and have trouble taking off. Water is usually required to get them into the air. There are four species of loons.

Aves contains about 8,650 different species of living birds known to science. Each year about one new species is discovered in some remote rain forest or remote island. In addition, scientists have been raising many subspecies to full species status which may raise the species count to 10,000.

However, each year about one species goes extinct. The rate of extinction is increasing, and the rate of new discovery is decreasing, so that the number of bird species will soon begin to decline rapidly. Although different taxonomists would organize the birds differently, there are approximately twenty-seven orders of birds. These orders are broken down into about one hundred and fifty-five different families.

Recent research of the genetic structure of some of the shore birds and owls would indicate that the present organization of orders and families should have some modification.

The birds are a worldwide group of animals that are characterized by having the front limbs modified into wings that are used for flying. Perhaps the most unique feature of the birds is the feathers. These feathers are made up of a central support called a quill and a series of small filaments that are hooked together as barbs.

For many years it was believed that Archaeopteryx discovered in Bavaria was the oldest bird from about 150 million years ago.  However, in l986, Sankar Chattterjee, a Texas paleontologist, reportedly discovered a bird in the genus Protoavis that lived about 225 million years ago.

Backboned Animals (Phylum Chordata) are the most advanced group of animals on earth. These animals are characterized by having a spinal cord or backbone. Most members have a clearly defined brain that controls the organism through a spinal cord. Fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are in this phylum.

Currently, some taxonomists believe that the fish should be divided into two groups (sharks and regular fishes) and that there are some other primitive groups in the phylum such as hagfish or lampreys.

Animal Kingdom contains numerous organisms that feed on other animals or plants. Included in the animal kingdom are the lower marine invertebrates such as sponges and corals, the jointed legged animals such as insects and spiders, and the backboned animals such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.

 

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