http://www.ck12.org Chapter 12. Understanding Biodiversity: Animals: Birds
12.12 Phainopepla nitens: Black Cardinal
Common Name
- Black Cardinal
- Phainopepla
Description
The height for the black cardinal is 16 centimeters and the length is 20 centimeters. The male has a shiny black chest
and has two white wing patches with a long tail and red eyes. The female has brown eyes and white wing patches.
They travel in small flocks. The young phainopepla has rounded wings as well as long tails.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Passeriformes
- Family: Plethodontidae
- Genus: Phainopepla
- Species: Phainopepla nitens
Habitat
The black cardinal is native to San Diego, California as well as southwestern Colorado, Nevada, southwestern Utah,
New Mexico, and the Sonoran Desert. The black cardinal is rarely found in Arizona, Texas and Mexico. It can be
found in woodlands, desert scrub, and canyon foothills.
Biology
Cell Biology
Phainopepla nitenshas cells called eukaryotic cells. Eukaryotic cells are cells with a nucleus, which contains genetic
material, as well as many other organelles. Organelles are tiny cell parts within the cell. Some examples of organelles
are ribosomes, which are non-membrane bound organelles where proteins are made. Another example is vesicles,
and they are small, membrane-bound sacs that transport materials around the cell and to the cell membrane. A final
example is mitochondria, which basically provides energy needed to power chemical reactions. The Phainopepla
has specialized cells called red blood cells which transport oxygen through the entire body.