King Vulture
Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve
https://www.macawmountain.org/en/card/king-vulture/
The King Vulture (Sarcoramphus papa) is one of the largest species of New World vultures, reaching a height of about 2.5 feet and weighing up to 8 pounds (Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute). King Vultures have exceptionally powerful beaks—the strongest among vultures in the Amazon rainforest—which allows them to rip open even the toughest carcasses (Dawne). Once the King Vulture has broken into a carcass, other vulture species with weaker beaks can access the meat. Because vultures as a group play a crucial ecological role, the King Vulture’s ability to facilitate feeding opportunities for other scavengers makes it a keystone species.
To fully appreciate why King Vultures are considered keystone species, it helps to understand the vital function that vultures serve in their ecosystems. Despite their undeserved reputation, vultures are nature’s cleanup crew: by devouring carrion, they help prevent the spread of diseases and recycle nutrients back into the environment. King Vultures do this just as effectively as other vulture species—perhaps even more so—since they enable smaller vultures to feed on carcasses that would otherwise remain sealed. This dual role of both cleaning up the ecosystem and assisting other scavengers is what makes King Vultures especially important in tropical rainforests.
References:
King Vulture Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute
Ormiston, Dawne, Sarcoramphus papa King Vulture Animal Diversity Web