How does the bill shape of an Anhinga differ from that of a cormorant, reflecting different prey handling adaptations?
Answer
Anhingas possess a much longer, more slender bill ending in a very sharp point, resembling a spear or dagger.
Cormorants have a thicker, slightly hooked bill for grasping, while Anhingas possess a much longer, more slender bill ending in a very sharp point, an adaptation that assists in stabbing slippery prey like eels or snakes.
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