37
fl ying vertebrates in the world (see for review Harrison 1983 , 1997 ; Lofgren 1984 ;
Lockley 1984 ; Gaston 2004 ).
The Pelecaniformes Order
About 50 species of the seabirds like tropic-birds, pelicans, boobies, cormorants
and frigate birds are representatives of the order Pelecaniformes (see for review
Johnsgard 1993 ; Smith 2010 ). Representatives of this group can be distinguished by
their toes, all four of which are webbed and point forward. Their chicks hatched
naked and are thus extremely dependent on their parents. Pelicanimormes are active
hunter and divers. Correspondingly, their nostrils are protected as an adaptation for
diving (Nelson 2005 ).
Order Sphenisciformes (Penguins)
Phylogenetic hypotheses place penguins (16–19 species) within Aves and
Neornithes, but further relationships remain contentious. Penguins are among the
oldest of extant avian clades because their fossil remains were found in the Early
Palaeocene (61 Ma) rocks (Clarke et al. 2010 ; Ksepka and Clarke 2010 ).
Representatives of this order are distributed from the tropics to Antarctica, especially
in the regions of high ocean productivity with respect to their prey. For example, a
small penguin (about 30 cm), the Galápagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus ) is
the only penguin to live north of the equator. However, this species is living in
the surprisingly cool waters surrounding the Galápagos Archipelago (Boersma 1977 ).
S. mendiculus are excellent swimmers. They quickly achieving speeds of up to
35 km per hour (almost 22 mph) (see for review Williams 1995 ).
“Penguins exhibit a remarkable range of adaptations to life in the marine environment, including fl attened limb bones, feathers that are unique among birds, and
solid bones” (Walsh et al. 2008 ; see for more information Davis and Renner 2003 ).
Order Procellariiformes (Tube-Nosed Birds)
The tube-nosed birds (Procellariiformes) possess hooked bill as well as long,
tubular nostrils, which help smell food up to 30 km away (Warham 1990 ). The most
of these birds spend the vast majority of their lives on the ocean, only setting foot
on land in order to mate. Birds in the order Procellariiformes includes following
representatives: diving-petrels (4 species), albatrosses (13 species), shearwaters and
petrels (66 species), and storm-petrels (21 species). Procellariiformes are diverse in
size and weight. For example, Wandering Albatross ( Diomedea exulans ) at 11 kg
show the wingspan of about 3.6 m. The tiny Least Storm Petrel ( Halocyptena
microsoma ) with the weight of 20 g has the wingspan of 32 cm (see for review
Onley and Scofi eld 2007 ).
1.2 Part I: Biomaterials of Vertebrate Origin. An Overview
fl ying vertebrates in the world (see for review Harrison 1983 , 1997 ; Lofgren 1984 ;
Lockley 1984 ; Gaston 2004 ).
The Pelecaniformes Order
About 50 species of the seabirds like tropic-birds, pelicans, boobies, cormorants
and frigate birds are representatives of the order Pelecaniformes (see for review
Johnsgard 1993 ; Smith 2010 ). Representatives of this group can be distinguished by
their toes, all four of which are webbed and point forward. Their chicks hatched
naked and are thus extremely dependent on their parents. Pelicanimormes are active
hunter and divers. Correspondingly, their nostrils are protected as an adaptation for
diving (Nelson 2005 ).
Order Sphenisciformes (Penguins)
Phylogenetic hypotheses place penguins (16–19 species) within Aves and
Neornithes, but further relationships remain contentious. Penguins are among the
oldest of extant avian clades because their fossil remains were found in the Early
Palaeocene (61 Ma) rocks (Clarke et al. 2010 ; Ksepka and Clarke 2010 ).
Representatives of this order are distributed from the tropics to Antarctica, especially
in the regions of high ocean productivity with respect to their prey. For example, a
small penguin (about 30 cm), the Galápagos penguin ( Spheniscus mendiculus ) is
the only penguin to live north of the equator. However, this species is living in
the surprisingly cool waters surrounding the Galápagos Archipelago (Boersma 1977 ).
S. mendiculus are excellent swimmers. They quickly achieving speeds of up to
35 km per hour (almost 22 mph) (see for review Williams 1995 ).
“Penguins exhibit a remarkable range of adaptations to life in the marine environment, including fl attened limb bones, feathers that are unique among birds, and
solid bones” (Walsh et al. 2008 ; see for more information Davis and Renner 2003 ).
Order Procellariiformes (Tube-Nosed Birds)
The tube-nosed birds (Procellariiformes) possess hooked bill as well as long,
tubular nostrils, which help smell food up to 30 km away (Warham 1990 ). The most
of these birds spend the vast majority of their lives on the ocean, only setting foot
on land in order to mate. Birds in the order Procellariiformes includes following
representatives: diving-petrels (4 species), albatrosses (13 species), shearwaters and
petrels (66 species), and storm-petrels (21 species). Procellariiformes are diverse in
size and weight. For example, Wandering Albatross ( Diomedea exulans ) at 11 kg
show the wingspan of about 3.6 m. The tiny Least Storm Petrel ( Halocyptena
microsoma ) with the weight of 20 g has the wingspan of 32 cm (see for review
Onley and Scofi eld 2007 ).
1.2 Part I: Biomaterials of Vertebrate Origin. An Overview