An African openbill skull (the largest I've ever seen, measuring 252mm) next to the skull of a Eurasian eagle-owl. Aren't they funny?
The openbill (Anastomus lamelligerus) is a stork widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, recognizable by the distinctive shape of its bill, from which it also derives its name. This adaptation enables it to prey on freshwater snails, which make up a large part of its diet, extracting them from their shells without breaking them.
You've surely all seen an eagle-owl (Bubo bubo), but did you know about its scleral rings? These structures are present in all birds, but in nocturnal raptors they are particularly "bulky", as they keep the big tubular eyes that help these animals navigate in dim light fixed within the skull. Unfortunately, this prevents them from moving their eyes (a limitation they compensate for with an extremely flexible neck).
