class ave feeding

Question 1

what was a characteristic of mesozoic birds?

Answer 1

they had teeth but none survive

Question 2

what is special about bird mouths?

Answer 2

edentulous beaks - have no teeth

however, there are so many different specialisations

Question 3

what are the characteristics of the beak?

Answer 3

the beak has an increased premaxilla covered with horny rhamphotheca

Question 4

what are some of the adaptations in the skull?

Answer 4

sclerotic ring - supports eyeball in orbit

cranial bone is fused to provide strength

maxilla and mandible

quadrate - provides kinetic jaw articulation

Question 5

what is a mobile palate?

Answer 5

palatine and pterygoid bones - roof of the mouth

moved by mobile quadrate

Question 6

what is the avian oropharynx?

Answer 6

part of the throat

it is distensible because the mucosal fold

Question 7

what is the hyoid?

Answer 7

slender Y-shaped apparatus to support the tongue

Question 8

what are some specialisation for the anterior digestive system?

Answer 8

has a crop, part of the 2 stage stomach

also a gizzard to help digest seeds

Question 9

what are some specialisation for the anterior digestive system?

Answer 9

has a crop, part of the 2-stage stomach
stores food

also, a gizzard lower down to help process seeds

Question 10

what is the gizzard?

Answer 10

also known as ventricles

muscular part grinds food

the hardened lining of gizzard, for gastroliths

if swallowed stones to aid maceration of tough fibre

Question 11

what is the caecum?

Answer 11

plural is caeca
2 blind pouches

attach to gut

increase size in herbivores

microbacteria aid dietary fermentation

Question 12

what are the characteristics of the small intestine?

Answer 12

looped and coiled

the large intestine is short

Question 13

characteristics of the urinary system?

Answer 13

kidneys

uterus

cloaca