Magellan Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) is found on the southern coasts of South America from Chile, to Argentina and on the Falkland Islands. This penguin has been recorded from New Zealand. This 30 inch penguin has a black face that is outlined by a white half circle.

The penguin genus Spheniscus) contains four species of Penguin. These penguins can be separated quickly from the Eudyptes penguins as the Spheniscus penguins lack the yellow-orange head feathers found in the Eudyptes genus. There is a local Galapagos species in this genus. Furthermore, the remaining more widespread Spheniscus penguins all have a black band across their upper white breast. The three remaining more widespread penguins also have either a narrow or wide curved white stripe from their eyes down to the neck. These penguins are generally from 24 to 28 inches in length.

Penguin Family(Spheniscidae) consist of swimming birds that are found only in the cool southern oceans of the world. There are about fourteen different species in this group. Most of the species are black and white or gray and white in coloration, and all are excellent swimmers. Penguins use their wings to swim under water. Penguins cannot fly, and lead lives similar to seals and porpoises. However, since penguins lay eggs, they need some land to breed.

Penguin Order (Sphenisciformes) contains a single family (Spheniscidae) of swimming birds that are found only in the cool southern oceans of the world. Most of the species are black and white or gray and white in coloration. All are excellent swimmers. Penguins use their wings to swim under water. It is estimated that some species of Penguins can swim as fast as twenty-five miles and hour under water. Penguins cannot fly, and lead lives similar to seals and porpoises. However, since penguins lay eggs, they need land to breed.

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. Birdlife recognizes 10,027 species as of 2011.

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.

When this project was begun in 1978, we used Austin & Singer for bird taxonomy. Since then, we have adopted many changes, but have kept some older concepts that are still found widely in the literature. Recently, we have used Clements and Howard & Moore. Very recently, we have used Monroe and Sibley for the higher taxonomy of the perching birds.

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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