What specialized structures help the woodpecker tongue grip insect prey?
Answer
Tiny, rearward-pointing barbs or filaments near the tip
The tongue is the specialized retrieval tool essential for extracting insects located deep within the wood structure after the bill has excavated the channel. Generally, this long, flexible tongue is equipped with small, sharp projections near its terminus. These projections function as barbs or filaments, specifically structured to point backward, which aids the bird in securing and gripping slippery prey items such as ants or beetle larvae once they are located within the narrow channels of the wood. Furthermore, in many species, the very tip of the tongue might be slightly hardened or barbed to assist in piercing or adhering firmly to the trapped insects during extraction.
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