Gyps

Gyps
	Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus )
Systematics
Class :	Birds (aves)
Order :	Birds of prey (Accipitriformes)
Family :	Hawk species (Accipitridae)
Subfamily :	Old World Vulture (Aegypiinae)
Genre :	Gyps
Scientific name
	Gyps
	Savigny , 1809

Gyps is a genus of birds of prey from the subfamily of Old World Vultures (Aegypiinae). The species of the genus are without exception large to very large birds and are among the largest birds of prey. The largest species, the snow vulture ( Gyps himalayensis ) reaches a wingspan of up to 2.89 m and a weight of up to 12 kg. In all species the head and neck are densely colored. The very strong beak is long and shows an almost straight ridge. At the base of the neck there is a feather ruff interrupted at the front. The wings are very long and wide, the tail is relatively short and straight or slightly rounded. All species feed almost exclusively on carrion .

The 8 species of the genus are native to southern Europe, Africa and southern East Asia. One species occurs in Europe, the griffon vulture ( Gyps fulvus ).

etymology

The name Gyps for the genus of vultures is based on ancient Greek γύψ gýps , German 'vulture' .

In German-language encyclopedias of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, the term "Gyps" and corresponding compounds based on the Greek word γύψος gypsos (burnt plaster, chalk) are also used for plaster of paris .

species

Bengal vulture ( Gyps bengalensis )

Cape vulture or black vulture ( Gyps coprotheres )

Griffon Vulture ( Gyps fulvus )

Indian vulture ( Gyps indicus )

Lesser-billed vulture ( Gyps tenuirostris )

Snow Vulture ( Gyps himalayensis )

Sparger eggs ( Gyps rueppelli )

White-backed vulture ( Gyps africanus )

literature

Urs N. Glutz von Blotzheim , Kurt M. Bauer, Einhard Bezzel : Handbook of the birds of Central Europe , Vol. 4: Falconiformes . 2nd edition AULA-Verlag, Wiesbaden 1989, ISBN 3-89104-460-7 , p. 235.
James Ferguson-Lees, David A. Christie: Raptors of the World. Christopher Helm, London 2001, ISBN 0-7136-8026-1 .

Individual evidence

^ Wilhelm Pape , Max Sengebusch (arrangement): Concise dictionary of the Greek language . 3rd edition, 6th impression. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig 1914 ( zeno.org [accessed on August 29, 2018]).
↑ Encyclopedic entries on "Gyps": Adelung-1793: "Gyps, der", Brockhaus-1809: "Der Gyps", Brockhaus-1837: "Gyps", Brockhaus-1911: "Gyps", Herder-1854: "Gyps" , Meyers-1905: "Gyps [2]" · "Gyps [1]", Pierer-1857: "Gyps"

Web links

Commons : Gyps - album with pictures, videos and audio files

[1] Wilhelm Pape , Max Sengebusch (arrangement): Concise dictionary of the Greek language . 3rd edition, 6th impression. Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig 1914 ( zeno.org [accessed on August 29, 2018]).

[2] Encyclopedic entries on "Gyps": Adelung-1793: "Gyps, der", Brockhaus-1809: "Der Gyps", Brockhaus-1837: "Gyps", Brockhaus-1911: "Gyps", Herder-1854: "Gyps" , Meyers-1905: "Gyps [2]" · "Gyps [1]", Pierer-1857: "Gyps"