Black Skimmer Skull Replica
$91.00
The Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) is a tern-like seabird, one of three similar bird species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America.
- Description
- Additional information
Description
Black Skimmer Skull Replica (Rynchops niger) Information
Black skimmer skull replica measures 4.7 x 1.1 x 0.7 inches. Rynchops niger skull is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast of original specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA.
The distinctive Black Skimmer has many folk names in North America, where it has been called scissor-bill, shearwater, seadog, flood gull, stormgull, razorbill, and cutwater.
The Black skimmer or Rynchops niger is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae.
The Black skimmer or Rynchops niger is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America.
Northern populations winter in the warmer waters of the Caribbean and the tropical and subtropical Pacific coasts, but the South American races make only shorter movements in response to annual floods which extend their feeding areas in the river shallows.
Rynchops niger is the largest of the three skimmer species. It measures 16 to 20 in. long with a 42 to 50 in. wingspan. This species ranges from 7.5 to 15.8 oz., with males averaging about 12.3 oz., as compared to the smaller females 9.0 oz.
The basal half of the bill is red, the rest mainly black, and the lower mandible is much elongated. The eye has a dark brown iris and catlike vertical pupil, unique for a bird. The legs are red. The call is a barking kak-kak-kak.
The Black skimmer or Rynchops niger adults in breeding plumage have a black crown, nape and upper body. The forehead and underparts are white.
The upper wings are black with white on the rear edge, and the tail and rump are dark grey with white edges. The underwing color varies from white to dusky grey depending on region.
Non-breeding adult Rynchops niger have paler and browner upperparts, and a white nape collar. Immature birds have brown upperparts with white feather tips and fringes. The underparts and forehead are white, and the underwings as the adult.
Rynchops niger spend much time loafing gregariously on sandbars in the rivers, coasts and lagoons they frequent.
Black skimmer or Rynchops niger have a light graceful flight, with steady beats of their long wings.
They feed usually in large flocks, flying low over the water surface with the lower mandible skimming the water for small fish, insects, crustaceans and molluscs caught by touch by day or especially at night.
Scientific Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Charadriiformes
- Family: Laridae
- Genus: Rynchops
- Species: R. niger
- Binomial name: Rynchops niger
- Conservation status: Least concerned
The rynchops niger is unique among birds for having a lower mandible significantly longer than the upper. This osteological adaptation is crucial for their specialized skimming feeding method. Expand your research with the black-casqued hornbill male skull, Brandt’s cormorant female skull, and common murre skull. Discover more anatomical models in our bird or aves replica store.
Additional information
| Weight | 2.5 lbs |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.7 × 1.1 × 0.7 in |
