Family: Picidae
Description
This family contains all Wrynecks, Piculets and Woodpeckers including those with such names as Flickers, Sapsuckers and Flamebacks.
At least all the true Woodpeckers have adaptations that help them distribute the forces when they hit a tree and as such avoid brain damage. Among these adaptations:
- cartilage cushioning at the point where the mandible is attached to the skull
- strong muscles which contract just before impact and therefore also act as cushioning
- the two items above both direct force towards the base of the skull instead of towards the brain
- a thick, bony skull with a very spongy structure should also act as cushioning
- ensuring a hit that always avoids rotating the head means that the bird avoids rotational damage
Taxonomy
Picidae is a family in the Order Piciformes.
References
- Story about Dr. Schwab who has published about woodpeckers and their adaptations to avoid brain damage
Subcategories
This category has the following 37 subcategories, out of 37 total.
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Pages in category ‘Picidae’
The following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total.
