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Lappet-Faced Vulture
ExploreBirds
Lappet-Faced Vulture
torgos tracheliotos
The Lappet-Faced Vulture is a large bird with a unique and colorful appearance. They have a special role in nature by helping to clean up the environment by eating dead animals!
Habitat: Savannas and open grasslands in Africa.
Appearance
The Lappet-Faced Vulture is a massive bird with dark brown to black feathers, contrasting with whitish underparts and leg feathers. Its most distinctive feature is the large, pinkish-red, bare head and neck. These are adorned with prominent fleshy folds or 'lappets' on the sides of its face, making it easily distinguishable.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderAccipitriformesFamilyAccipitridaeGenusTorgos
Category
BirdsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Their massive nests can be up to two meters wide and deep!
These vultures are solitary diners, rarely sharing a meal with others!
They have the strongest beak of all African vultures, tearing tough skin.
Young vultures have fuzzy white heads, not bare and red like adults!
Special abilities
Ability
Super Scavenger Vision
Lappet-Faced Vultures have incredibly sharp eyesight that helps them spot carcasses from very high altitudes.
Ability
Tearer Beak
Lappet-Faced Vultures can tear through tough hides and muscle with their powerful beaks, helping them access meat others can't.
Ability
Heat Deflector Head
Lappet-Faced Vultures have a bare head and neck that helps them regulate body temperature in hot climates and stay clean.
Ability
Dominant Diner
Lappet-Faced Vultures have an imposing size and aggressive nature that helps them dominate at feeding sites.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 95-115 cm
- Wingspan
- 250-290 cm
- Weight
- 4.4-9.4 kg
- Lifespan
- 20-30 years
- Top Speed
- 60 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 1
- Incubation
- 54-56 days
Diet & Feeding
These powerful vultures eat mostly dead animals, tearing through tough hides that other scavengers can't.
Primary Foods
- carcasses of large mammals
- smaller dead animals
- tortoises
- fish
- insects
Foraging Method
- Scavenging
Ecological connections
eats
African Elephant
Loxodonta africana
Scavenges carrion from deceased individuals.
depends on
African Lion
Panthera leo
Benefits from lion kills as a major food source.
eats
Thomson's Gazelle
Gazella thomsonii
Feeds on carrion from various natural causes.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
African Lappet-Faced VultureLappet VultureTorgos Vulture
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always observe wild animals from a distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Lappet-Faced Vulture?
95-115 cm
What is Lappet-Faced Vulture's wingspan?
250-290 cm
How much does Lappet-Faced Vulture weigh?
4.4-9.4 kg
How long does Lappet-Faced Vulture live?
20-30 years
How fast can Lappet-Faced Vulture move?
60 km/h
What does Lappet-Faced Vulture eat?
These powerful vultures eat mostly dead animals, tearing through tough hides that other scavengers can't.
Where is Lappet-Faced Vulture usually found?
Savannas and open grasslands in Africa.
How does Lappet-Faced Vulture hunt?
Scavenging
Snap Map
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