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  • Title: Bill and hyoid apparatus of pigeons (Columbidae) and sandgrouse (Pteroclididae): a common adaptation to vegetarian feeding?
    Author: Korzun LP, Erard C, Gasc JP, Dzerzhinsky FJ.
    Journal: C R Biol; 2008 Jan; 331(1):64-87. PubMed ID: 18187124.
    Abstract:
    For the present study, 15 species of pigeons representing the 5 sub-families usually recognized, and 3 species of sandgrouse were examined. The skeleton and musculature of the bill and hyoid apparatus are described. Morpho-functional analyses show that from a key adaptation to the removal and deglutition (without processing) of attached plant items, pigeons would have followed two pathways, one based on the joint muscular control of the movement of the jaws (Columbinae, Treroninae, Gourinae), the other on the separate muscular control (Didunculinae, Otidiphabinae). Sandgrouse would have diverged from this latter, developing the ability to very selectively remove attached plant items as well as to peck particularly small seeds on the ground. Unexpected differences appeared between sandgrouse species which raise eco-ethological problems.
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