Stephanoaetus

The raptors I’ve been discussing here aren’t particularly big: Golden eagles max out at 6.6 kg, and Stephanoaetus is less than that.

Archive 2006-01-01 Darren Naish 2006

Top predators, such as crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), leopard (Panthera pardus, VU) and golden cat (Felis aurata) are still found at levels close to their natural range of variation.

Atlantic Equatorial coastal forests 2008

This could mean a 30% loss in body weight of the juvenile, thus bringing it close to or within the short-range carrying abilities of Stephanoaetus.

Archive 2006-01-01 Darren Naish 2006

A rich and varied bird life is found here, including forest species such as the trumpeter hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator), Knysna and purple-crested louries (Tauraco corythaix, T. porphyreolophus), crested guineafowl (Guttera pucherani) and the crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus).

Eastern Zimbabwe montane forest-grassland mosaic 2008

Anders Hedenström (1995) showed in Nature that, given that Stephanoaetus can carry animals weighing just over 6 kg (wow!), then it would have to have dismembered the australopithecine.

Archive 2006-01-01 Darren Naish 2006

Even top predators such as crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), leopard (Panthera pardus) and golden cat (Felis aurata) are affected as their prey animals are hunted out.

Northwestern Congolian lowland forests 2008

The significant grassland birds are mainly raptors, such as the black and crowned eagles (Aquila verreauxii, Stephanoaetus coronatus) and the lanner and peregrine falcons (Falco biarmicus, F. peregrinus).

South Malawi montane forest-grassland mosaic 2008

The crowned eagle (Stephanoaetus coronatus), a large and agile bird capable of preying on monkeys and small antelope, and the wood owl (Strix woodfodii) are among the larger avian forest predators.

Knysna-Amatole montane forests 2008

The main predator species are leopard (Panthera pardus, VU) and crowned eagles (Stephanoaetus coronatus), both of which appear to be declining due to intense hunting of their prey animals.

Cross-Sanaga-Bioko coastal forests 2008

It has been considered by some workers that the African crowned eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus was the most likely culprit – more on that at another time).

Archive 2006-01-01 Darren Naish 2006