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NOTES ON THE HABITS AND STRUCTURE OF THE GUACHARO STEATORNIS CARIPENSIS
Author(s) -
Ingram Collingwood
Publication year - 1958
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1958.tb00368.x
Subject(s) - foot (prosody) , anatomy , biology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , communication , medicine , psychology , art , literature
Summary 1. Steatornis is peculiar, perhaps unique, among birds in possessing two specialized means, one auditory and the other tactile, of locating objects in total darkness. 2. Owing to the peculiar position of the hallux and the fact that the much‐abbreviated metatarsus is more or less on the same plane as the toes, the hind limbs are ill‐adapted for walking or for perching on a branch, but they afford the bird a secure foothold when resting longitudinally on a ledge. 3. In the embryo the abnormally short metatarsus is incorporated in the body of the foot. Although anatomically distinct in the adult, functionally it remains a part of the foot serving to support much of the bird's weight when resting in its normal crouching posture.