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How he defies gravity
Doc Duck

How he defies gravity (Diomedea exulans)

Today I'm filling in some blanks from my last few days of albatross posts. For instance, there was the question (or maybe astonishment) of how this Wanderer managed to keep some chum dangling from his upper mandible, defying gravity. I think this shot may show how. Note the bony ridges in the upper mandible, with tooth-like bits pointing back towards the bird's throat. I think those may be for holding on to slippery food, which fish and octopus - live or chopped into chum - obviously are.
Click to expand...
Habitat
ocean
Location
seas off Kaikoura, New Zealand
Date taken
12 Sep 2018
Scientific name
Diomedea exulans
Equipment used
D90, 80-400
KC Foggin
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
God! Their tongue looks like a human tongue! This is one smokin head image Ann!
 
delia todd
Staff member
Opus Editor
Supporter
A cracking close-up you've got here Ann. Very well done lassie.

Those teeth-like things are call tomium and we've a good picture of a goose with some in the Topography article: https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Topography#Beaks (scroll down a bit, then click on the Greylag's picture).
 
Stanley Jones
Supporter
This Albatross seems to have a tongue similar to humans (lol). Amazing down the throat view. Top-marks Doc!
 
B
my goodness!!! amazing closeup, Ann!!! I agree with KC, that looks like a human tongue, top job, many tfs!!!
 

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Category
New Zealand, Southern Oceans, Antarctica
Added by
Doc Duck
Date added
View count
33
Comment count
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