What specialized feature produces the Whooping Crane's trumpeting calls within Family Gruidae?
Answer
An elongated trachea coiled around the sternum
Members of the family Gruidae, which includes the Whooping Crane, possess a unique anatomical adaptation that enables their loud, trumpeting vocalizations. This feature is the trachea, or windpipe, which is significantly elongated and coils around the sternum, essentially acting as a large sounding box. This physical structure resonates the sound produced, allowing the cranes to project their calls loudly across vast distances, which is crucial for territory defense and mate communication, particularly for the Aransas-Wood Buffalo Park population.
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