New World vulture

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/new-world-vulture

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific family?Cathartidae
2. What is the geographic distribution?Throughout the Americas, from southern Canada to Tierra del Fuego
3. What makes New World vultures good at finding food?They have a super strong sense of smell that lets them sniff out rotting animals from high up, even when the carcasses are hidden.
4. Why do New World vultures not have sharp claws?Because they only eat dead animals, they don’t need sharp claws to grab live prey. Their feet are strong but not sharp, which helps them walk on the ground and pick up food.

Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar features in species of different lineages.
Obligate Scavenger: An animal that relies solely on dead animals for sustenance.
Keystone Species: A species that has a crucial role in maintaining the structure of an ecological community.