Scientific Illustration

dennismoran:

burds

rfcunha:

Griffon by ~rfcunha

Painting for the article “A Arca de Noé e o problema da fauna sul-americana” by Nelson Papavero.

Sem Fronteiras - Revista de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação.
No. 3
2010

hopefulveterinarian:

Skeleton of an eagle

biomedicalephemera:

National Symbols - Bielik Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) - Poland

As you can see, birds-of-prey are very popular national icons, for obvious reasons - other animals are coming, though, with even more interesting lore behind them…

The Bielik Eagle is also known as the White-tailed Eagle, or Sea Eagle. They’re found throughout northern Europe and Asia, and occupy the same ecological niche as Bald Eagles do in North America - top predators of large fish, and willing and voracious scavengers when those aren’t available.

As a symbol of Poland, legend has it that the mythological Lech (often seen as the “founder” of Poland, much like Romulus and Remus were the “founders” of Rome - a real person, but much exaggerated for the purposes of mythology) was hunting far from his original home, and encountered a massive white eagle, fiercely defending its nest from intruders. Against the red sky of the setting sun, the eagle’s massive wings were tipped with gold, and Lech saw this as a good omen. He settled within the eagle’s territory, and adopted it as his herald.

Today, the white eagle can be found throughout Poland and Polish representations. Most notably, the Polish flag has historically had a large crowned White Eagle at its center (though the standard is currently simply red and white, with white representing the White Eagle), and the highest decoration of merit in Poland is the Order of the White Eagle. All branches of the Polish military have a Seal that includes a unique stylization of the White Eagle symbol, and the image is emblazoned upon many government buildings and schools.

At one point, the White Eagle was considered critically endangered throughout Europe. However, it has since been protected, and recovered amazingly well. It is currently considered one of the most successful birds-of-prey extant, and is not threatened to become endangered.

Bottom: White-tailed Eagle (note the resemblance to the Bald Eagle)
Top: Coat-of-arms of Poland

doctortakemewithyou:

WAIT. WHAT’S THAT IN THE FUCKING SKY?

IT’S HAAST’S EAGLE, AND YOU’D BETTER BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THAT MOFO IS A KILLING MACHINE. IT WILL SWOOP DOWN AND CARRY OFF YOUR SMALL CHILDREN. 

THIS BIRD IS NEW ZEALAND’S ANSWER TO THE LION. GIANT PREDATOR BUILT FOR KILLING WHATEVER THE HELL IT WANTS? GIVE IT WINGS.

THESE BEASTS GROW TO WEIGH ABOUT 13KILOS, AND HAVE A WINGSPAN OF 3 METRES. THEY BLOCK OUT THE SUN WHEN THEY SWOOP DOWN ON THEIR PREY. THEY HUNT MOA, WHICH ARE ABOUT FIFTEEN TIMES THEIR WEIGHT, BUT DOES THAT BOTHER HAAST’S EAGLE? NO! THEY JUST CRUSH THEIR SKULLS WITH THE TALONS OF ANNIHILATION. 

LOOK AT THAT. THAT BEAK IS BUILT FOR KILLING. DO NOT PISS OFF HAAST’S EAGLE BECAUSE THAT BIRD WILL JUST CRUSH YOUR NECK AND EAT YOUR FACE.

SCARED? YOU SHOULD BE.

(via prehistoric-birds)

damitr:

Bald Eagle

rhamphotheca:

The Haast’s Eagle

posted by Blueeyedeagle on Carnivora Forum

Body Length: 140 cm / 4 ft 7 in.
Height: 90 cm / 2 ft 11 in.
Wingspan 2.6-3 m / 8 ft 6 in - 9 ft 10 in.
Weight: 10-15 kg / 22-33 lb.

(text from wikipedia)

Haast’s Eagles were the largest true raptors, outsizing even the largest living vultures. This wingspan was similar to that of some surviving eagles (the largest Golden Eagles and Steller’s Sea Eagles), though even the largest extant eagles are about 40% smaller in body size. Short wings may have aided Haast’s Eagle when hunting in the dense scrubland and forests of New Zealand. Haast’s Eagle is sometimes portrayed as having evolved towards flightlessness, but this is not so; rather, it represents a departure from its ancestors’ mode of soaring flight toward higher wing loading and increased maneuverability. The strong legs and massive flight muscles would have enabled the birds to take off with a jumping start from the ground, despite their great weight. The tail was almost certainly long (up to 50 cm (20 inches), in female specimens) and very broad, further increasing maneuverability and compensating for the reduction in wing area by providing additional lift. 

Haast’s Eagle preyed on large, flightless bird species that were unable to defend themselves from the striking force and speed of these eagles. Among its prey was the moa which was up to 15 times its weight. It attacked at speeds up to 80 km/h (50 mph), often seizing its prey’s pelvis with the talons of one foot and killing with a blow to the head or neck with the other. Its size and weight indicate a bodily striking force equivalent to a cinder block landing on the target from a height of 25 m (82 ft). Its large beak also could be used to rip into the internal organs of its prey and death then, would have been caused by blood loss.

(via: Carnivore Forum) 

(via dendroica)

Pithecophaga jefferyi - Philippine Eagle by ~UndeterminedBreed

Philippine Eagle, Pithecophaga jefferyi