anon6789 OP , 7 hours ago

Vultures are not typically aggressive. They don’t have the speed and strong talons of other raptors. The great majority of their food is already dead when they eat it. If another predator shows up, they will usually get out of there.

Their look is unconventional, but they are largely designed the only way they can be. If we go by the philosophy of beauty being function over form, it becomes easier to appreciate them.

Their heads are typically bald to avoid parasites and pathogens they would get from sticking their heads inside of some gnarly spaces.

Their legs are also bare, and they wash them with their urea (urohydrosis) to keep them sterile as well, because those feet are also going in the same funk.

Vulture stomach acid also comes in between 0-1 pH, making it 100x as strong as ours. All that bacteria and any parasites are going to be nuked.

So they are basically living, regenerating bio hazard suits that can digest anything. They can eat things contaminated with anthrax and botulism without a care in the world.

Bonus fact: There is a Palm Nut Vulture eats nuts, fruit, and grain in addition to meat.

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/a98fb87c-1c62-4933-85e1-f010f2bba66d.jpeg