California Condor Humerus Bone Replica

Description

California Condor Humerus Bone Replica (Gymnogyps californianus) Information

California condor humerus bone replica measures 10.5 inches. Gymnogyps californianus bone is museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from Museum of Natural History, Santa Barbara, CA specimen. 1:1 scale. Humerous bone is the right side. Made in USA.

The humerus is the bone in a bird’s upper arm that connects to the pectoral girdle and is a key part of the bird’s wing skeleton. The humerus is a vital part of a bird’s skeleton because it connects the forelimb to the pectoral girdle and withstands the forces of flight.

The humerus’s length is a variable that allows birds to have a variety of wing shapes. When a bird is at rest, the humerus is close to the thoracic cavity. The supracoracoideus and superficial pectoral muscles attach to opposite sides of the humerus, allowing the bird to raise and lower its wing.

Birds have the same basic bones in their wings as humans have in their arms, including the humerus, radius, and ulna. However, natural selection has modified these bones for flight, so birds’ “hand” bones have shrunk and merged.

Bird bones are extremely light to help the bird fly more easily. Some birds have hollow bones, with larger birds having more air-filled bones that are generally thinner.

The adult California condor is a uniform black with the exception of large triangular patches or bands of white on the underside of the wings. Gymnogyps californianus has gray legs and feet, an ivory-colored bill, a frill of black feathers surrounding the base of the neck, and brownish red eyes.

The juvenile is mostly a mottled dark brown with blackish coloration on the head. It has mottled gray instead of white on the underside of its flight feathers.

The condor’s head and neck have few feathers, and the skin of the head and neck is capable of flushing noticeably in response to emotional state, a capability that can serve as communication between individuals.

Gymnogyps californianus skin color varies from yellowish to a glowing reddish-orange. They can make a few hissing or grunting sounds only heard when very close.

California condor have the largest wingspan of any North American bird. They are surpassed in both body length and weight only by the trumpeter swan and the introduced mute swan.

The American white pelican and whooping crane also have longer bodies than the condor. Condors are so large that they can be mistaken for a small, distant airplane, which possibly occurs more often than they are mistaken for other species of bird.

The middle toe of the California condor’s foot is greatly elongated, and the hind one is only slightly developed.

The talons of all the toes are straight and blunt, and are thus more adapted to walking than gripping. This is more similar to their supposed relatives the storks than to birds of prey and Old World vultures, which use their feet as weapons.

Conservation status:

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Aves
• Order: Cathartiformes
• Family: Cathartidae
• Genus: Gymnogyps
• Species: G. californianus
• Binomial name: Gymnogyps californianus
• Conservation status: Critically endandered

Biologists study these wing bones to understand the specialized soaring mechanics required for high-altitude thermal gliding. Expand your collection with the moa leg bones, barn owl skeleton, and African penguin skeleton. Find more high-fidelity specimens available in our vulture or raptor replica store.