![]() Nonetheless, it appears to be the sixth or seventh longest extant eagle species. Its total length – in comparison to its wingspan – is restricted by its relatively short tail. In total length, it can range from 78 to 96 cm (31 to 38 in), with an average of approximately 85.5 cm (33.7 in). There are no subspecies of martial eagle, and the species varies little in appearance and genetic diversity across its distribution. Given the disparity of this species’ unique morphology and that the two aforementioned most closely related living species are only about as large as the bigger buzzards, the unique heritage of the martial eagle is evident. Genetically, the martial eagle fell between two other species in monotypical genera, the African long-crested eagle ( Lophaetus occipitalis) and the Asian rufous-bellied eagle ( Lophotriorchis kienerii), that similarly diverged long ago from other modern species. However, more modern and comprehensive genetic testing has shown that the martial eagle is distinct from other living booted eagles and diverged from other extant genera several million years ago. DNA testing in the 1980s indicated the martial eagle was a specialized off-shoot of the small-bodied Hieraaetus eagles, and one study went so far as to advocate that the martial eagle be included in the genus. Studies have been conducted on the mitochondrial DNA of most booted eagle species, including the martial eagle, to gain insight on how the subfamily is ordered and which species bear relation to one another. Just under half of the living species of booted eagle are found in Africa. Under current classifications, booted eagles consist of approximately 38 living species that are distributed in every continent inhabited by the accipitrids, which excludes only the continent of Antarctica. This helps distinguish these species from other eagles and raptors, as they are present even in tropical species such as the martial eagle. As a member of the booted eagle subfamily, Aquilinae, the martial eagle is one of the roughly 15% of extant species in the family to have feathers covering its legs. The Accipitridae family (hereafter accipitrids) is by far the most diverse family of diurnal raptors in the world, with more than 230 currently accepted species. The martial eagle is one of the most highly aerial members of its subfamily. Generally, these birds are more abundant in protected areas such as Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa, or Etosha National Park in Namibia. Some of the larger remaining populations are known to persist in Zimbabwe and South Africa. In east Africa, they range from Somaliland and Ethiopia more or less continuously south through Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and in southern Africa from Angola, Zambia, Malawi and southern Mozambique to South Africa. From southern Niger and eastern Nigeria the species is distributed spottily through Chad, Sudan and the Central African Republic as well as the northern, eastern, and southern portions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Martial eagles tend to be rare and irregular in west Africa but are known to reside in Senegal, The Gambia and northern Guinea-Bissau, southern Mali and the northern portions of Ivory Coast and Ghana. Although never common, greater population densities do exist in southern Africa and in some parts of east Africa. With a total estimated distribution of about 26,000 km 2 (10,000 sq mi), it has a substantial distribution across Africa, giving it a somewhat broader range than other species there like the crowned eagle ( Stephanoaetus coronatus) and the Verreaux's eagle ( Aquila verreauxii). The martial eagle can be found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, wherever food is abundant and the environment favourable. Currently, the martial eagle is classified with the status of Endangered by the IUCN. ![]() Due to its habit of taking livestock and regionally valuable game, local farmers and game wardens frequently seek to eliminate martial eagles, although the effect of eagles on this prey is almost certainly considerably exaggerated. The martial eagle is one of the most persecuted bird species in the world. An inhabitant of wooded belts of otherwise open savanna, this species has shown a precipitous decline in the last few centuries due to a variety of factors. It is one of few eagle species known to hunt primarily from a high soar, by stooping on its quarry. One of the largest and most powerful species of booted eagle, it is a fairly opportunistic predator that varies its prey selection between mammals, birds and reptiles. A species of the booted eagle subfamily ( Aquilinae), it has feathering over its tarsus. ![]() It is the only member of the genus Polemaetus. The martial eagle ( Polemaetus bellicosus) is a large eagle native to sub-Saharan Africa. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |