Where are the external nares, which enhance the kiwi's sense of smell, uniquely situated on its bill?
Answer
At the very end of the bill
One of the most distinctive adaptations of the kiwi is the placement of its nostrils, referred to as external nares. These are situated conspicuously at the tip of its long, prominent bill. This adaptation is directly linked to its foraging strategy; the kiwi uses its keen sense of smell to probe the leaf litter and soil for invertebrates, which constitute the staple of its diet. This specialized sensory equipment grants the kiwi the best sense of smell among all birds, an adaptation honed over millions of years of isolating evolution in the New Zealand forest floor ecosystem.
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