The Gypaetinae is one of two subfamilies of Old World vultures the other being the Aegypiinae. This subfamily is considered a sister group to Perninae. They are presently found throughout much of Africa, Asia, and southern Europe, hence being considered "Old World" vultures, but as recently as the Late Pleistocene, they were also present in North America.
Species
Extant genera Subfamily Genus Common and binomial names Image Range Gypaetinae Gypaetus Bearded vultureGypaetus barbatus High mountains in southern Europe, the Caucasus, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, and TibetGypaetus georgii Fossil record from the late Miocene, Spain Gypohierax Palm-nut vultureGypohierax angolensis Forest and savannah across sub-Saharan Africa Neophron Egyptian vultureNeophron percnopterus Southwestern Europe and northern Africa to IndiaNeophron lolisFossil record from the late Miocene, Spain
Fossil genera Genera known only from fossils include:
Subfamily Genus Common and binomial names Image RangeGypaetinae†Anchigyps†Anchigyps voorhiesiLate Miocene to early Pliocene of North America†Arikarornis †Arikarornis macdonaldiEarly Miocene of North America†Mioneophron †Mioneophron longirostrisLate Miocene of China†Neophrontops†Neophrontops americanusMiocene to Late Pleistocene of North America†Neophrontops dakotensis†Neophrontops slaughteri†Neophrontops vallecitoensis†Neophrontops vetustus†Neogyps (sometimes placed in the Aegypiinae)†Neogyps errans Late Pleistocene of North America†Palaeoborus (sometimes placed in the Aegypiinae)†Palaeoborus howardaeMiocene of North America†Palaeoborus rosatus†Palaeoborus umbrosus
Taxonomy and systematics The three members of Gypaetinae, together with four other genera, are collectively basal to the Perninae sensu stricto (Aviceda clade plus Pernis clade). Those four are: Polyboroides typus (African harrier hawk), Eutriorchis astur (Madagascar serpent eagle), Chondrohierax and Leptodon .
The new-world genera Chondrohierax (hook-billed kite and Cuban kite) and Leptodon (gray-headed kite and white-collared kite) likely form a clade within the larger group. The placement of Polyboroides and Eutriorchis has been problematic.
Within the Accipitridae, the Elaninae diverged earliest, then this clade – consisting of Polyboroides, Gypaetinae, Eutriorchis, Chondrohierax, Leptodon, and Perninae – is sister to the remaining accipitrids.
References
Other sources