Gyps tenuirostris

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Ordo: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Euavialae
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Ordo: Accipitriformes

Familia: Accipitridae
Subfamilia: Aegypiinae
Genus: Gyps
Species: Gyps tenuirostris
Name

Gyps tenuirostris G. R. Gray, 1844
Synonymy

Gyps indicus tenuirostris

References

The Genera of Birds 1 (2): 6, pl.III.
IUCN: Gyps tenuirostris (Critically Endangered)

Vernacular names
العربية: نسر نحيل المنقار
brezhoneg: Gup beg moan
català: Voltor becfí
čeština: Sup tenkozobý
English: Slender-billed Vulture
Esperanto: Fajnbeka gipo
فارسی: کرکس نوک‌باریک
suomi: Gangesinkorppikotka
français: Vautour à long bec
עברית: נשר צר-מקור
हिन्दी: लंबी चोंच का गिद्ध
magyar: Keskenycsőrű keselyű
Bahasa Indonesia: Nazar paruh-ramping
नेपाली: सानो खैरो गिद्ध
Nederlands: Dunsnavelgier
norsk: Teraigribb
Diné bizaad: Jeeshóóʼ bidaaʼ áłtsʼózígíí
polski: Sęp długodzioby
پنجابی: پتلی چنج آلی گدھ
português: Abutre-de-bico-estreito
svenska: smalnäbbad gam
Tiếng Việt: Kền kền mỏ nhỏ
中文: 細嘴兀鷲

The slender-billed vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) is an Old World vulture species native to sub-Himalayan regions and Southeast Asia. It is Critically Endangered since 2002 as the population on the Indian subcontinent has declined rapidly. As of 2021, fewer than 870 mature individuals are thought to remain.[1]

It used to be the Indian vulture, under the name of “long-billed vulture”. However, these two species have non-overlapping distribution ranges and can be immediately told apart by trained observers, even at considerable distances. The Indian vulture is found only to the south of the Ganges and breeds on cliffs while the slender-billed vulture is found along and nests in trees.
Description

At 80 to 95 cm (31 to 37 in), in length, this mid-sized vulture is about the same size as its sister species, the Indian vulture.[7] This vulture is mostly grey with a pale rump and grey undertail coverts. The thighs have whitish down. The neck is long, bare, skinny and black. The black head is angular and narrow with the dark bill appearing narrow midway. The ear opening is prominent and exposed.[8]
Distribution and habitat

The slender-billed vulture is found in India from the Gangetic plain north, west to Himachal Pradesh, south potentially as far as northern Odisha, and east through Assam.[9] It is also found in north and central Bangladesh, southern Nepal, Burma and Cambodia.[9]
Status and conservation
Main article: Indian vulture crisis

This species has suffered a marked decline in its numbers in recent years. The population of this species and the Indian vulture declined by 97% overall and in India annual decline rates for both species averaged over 16% between 2000–2007. Wild populations remain from northern and eastern India through southern Nepal and Bangladesh, with a small population in Burma. The only breeding colony in Southeast Asia is in the Steung Treng province of Cambodia. This colony is thought to number about 50–100 birds. The survival of the vultures in Cambodia may have been partly because diclofenac, which is poisonous to vultures, is not available there. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has placed the approximate number of slender-billed vultures living beyond confines at about 1,000 in 2009 and predictions estimate total extinction within the next decade amongst the wild population.[10][11]

The slender-billed vulture is a protected species listed on the appendix II list of CITES, because its numbers have declined rapidly. Its decline is largely due to the use of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) diclofenac in working farm animals. Diclofenac is poisonous to vultures, causing kidney failure, and is being replaced by meloxicam (another NSAID), which is not toxic to vultures.[12] The retail sale of Diclofenac is banned by law in India; however, Diclofenac is still acquired illegally and applied to livestock.[10]

Captive-breeding programs in India are aiming to conserve the species, and it is hoped that vultures can be released back in the wild when the environment is free of diclofenac.[10] Joint efforts between the RSPB and the Zoological Society of London resulted in the first successful captive breeding in 2009.[10] Two slender-billed vultures hatched and are being independently cared for in Haryana and West Bengal.[11][12]
References

BirdLife International (2021). "Gyps tenuirostris". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T22729460A204781113. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
Gray, G.R. (1844). "Vulturinae, or Vultures". The genera of birds : comprising their generic characters, a notice of the habits of each genus, and an extensive list of species referred to their several genera. Vol. 1. London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans. p. 5–6.
Hume, A. O. (1878). "Gyps tenuirostris Hodgson". Stray Feathers. 7: 326.
Deignan, H. G. (1946). "The correct names of three Asiatic birds" (PDF). Ibis. 88: 402–403. doi:10.1111/j.1474-919X.1946.tb03492.x.
Baker, ECS (1927) Bull. Brit. Orn. Club 47:151
Rand, A. L. & Fleming, R. L. (1957). "Birds from Nepal". Fieldiana: Zoology. 41 (1): 55.
Vulture facts Archived 2011-08-11 at the Wayback Machine (2011).
Rasmussen, PC & JC Anderton (2005). Birds of South Asia: The Ripley Guide. Volume 2. Smithsonian Institution & Lynx Edicions. p. 90.
Rare Birds Yearbook 2008. England: MagDig Media Lmtd. 2007. pp. 124–125. ISBN 978-0-9552607-3-5.
Alleyne, R. (2009). "Endangered vulture could be saved thanks to help from RSPB". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
"Indian vulture births are hailed". BBC News. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
Press Association (2009-08-06). "Boost for endangered vultures after captive breeding success". Guardian. Retrieved 2009-08-06.