New Page 3

THE GREATER ROADRUNNER

"Geococcyx californianus"

Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | Genus and Species

Fun Facts | Art and Poetry | Works Cited

Kingdom: Animalia

Characteristics

Multicellular
Heterotrophic
No cell wall
Reproduces sexually
bodies organized into tissues
move faster then organisms in other kingdoms

Phylum: Chordata

Characteristics

Tail projecting beyond the anus
segmented muscles
complete digestive system
single, dorsal, hollow nerve cord, usually with a brain
Heart with blood vessels and blood system
Endoskeleton of bone or cartilage

Class: Aves

Characteristics

Horny Beak
No teeth
large muscular stomach
feathers
large yoked, hard shelled eggs
looks after young
strong skeleton

Order: Cuculiformes

Characteristics

large land bird
reversed fourth toe
decurved bills
long tails

Family: Cuculidae

Characteristics

eats insects
powerful legs and feet
long tails
two toes forwards, two toes backwards
live in woodlands, forests, and jungles
cuckoos and roadrunners

Genus and Species: Geococcyx californianus

Characteristics

roadrunners

Spends most of its time under the ground
Runs up to 15 miles per hour
is an awkward flier and prefers to glide
also called road runner, ground cuckoo, churea, and snake killer
lives from California, down to Mexico, and east to Texas
24 inches long
eats small rodents, reptiles, birds, or grasshoppers

Running fast

Over the hills

Attacks rats

Doesn't fly

Reaches for the sky

Under the ground

Needs the sun

Never is slow

Eats snakes

Razor beak

Web Sites

1.) "Geococcyx Californioanus." 2004. University of Michigan. 11 Feb 2004. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/index.html>.

2.) "Geococcyx Californianus." 2004. U.S.G.S.. 11 Feb 2004. <http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/Idtips/h3850id.html>.

Picture

3.) "Geococcyx Californianus." 2004. University of Michigan. 11 Feb 2004. <http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/sounds/Geococcyx_californianus.html>.

Return to Index