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THE WOODPECKER's TONGUE:

Without question, the development of the woodpecker's tongue from a "conventional bird's tongue" taxes the imagination and presents a true challenge to the Neo-Darwinian theory of evolution.

While bird watchers and bird enthusiasts will find the discussion of the woodpecker's tongue of interest, the intended audience is those people interested in the subjects of evolution and/or creation.

The question posed and subsequently addressed herein is:

What is the Origin of the Woodpecker's Tongue?



DRAWING OF THE WOODPECKER's Tongue


The tongue - which surrounds and is supported by the split legs of the hyoid bone - exits the skull from the woodpecker's right nostril; passes between the eyes on the outside of theskull and continues over the top of the head. It follows behind the skull where, turning forward, the two-halves of the tongue and the surrounded hyoid bone pass on opposite sides of the neck. The halves rejoin beneath the jaw where the tongue and bone enter the bill through the soft tissue of the lower jaw.


Separation Line
photo hyoid bone

The split Hyoid bone, which the Tongue encases like insulation on an electrical wire, can be clearly seen in the photo of the skull above but it is not so clearly visible below due to photo quality. [Replacement photos will be substituted as soon as they are available]

The legs of the "Y" shaped bone...exit the right nostril,


Right Nostrile

Right Nostrile

pass over skull ...............then around the neck,

Skull


and finally back up through the lower jaw.

Drawing of Tongue

[Note in above photo where the halves of the bone rejoin beneath the jaw]

This circuitous routing provides the woodpecker with an extremely longtongue. Just as a very long rubber band can be stretched to a much greater length than a short one, so a long tongue can be extended much further than a shorter one.

In addition, as the hyoid bone is only attached to the skull at the "Nostril" end, when the woodpecker contracts the muscles surrounding it, the bone is pulled down against the skull which thrusts the free end of it forward extending the tongue even further.
This long tongue with a rigid bone in the center is advantageous to the woodpecker in enabling him to reach grubs and insects deep within a tree trunk or elsewhere where they are living or where they may have retreated upon sensing the vibrations set up by the woodpecker's pecking.




The $64 Question



What is the Origin of the Woodpecker's Tongue?



Is There Some
Natural Process or Mechanism
Which Can Explain It?


What do you think?...... Is there such a Process?


..... ....................... ............

YES! - There is ... .................. NO! - There is Not...

It's Called Evolution! ...................... Complex Design Requires A Designer!


I suggest that you examine both options before making up your mind.






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Hits since 12/6/96

Copyright © 1996 William D. Gates October 1996.
  • Readers Comments [Edited]
  • Readers Evolutionary Explanations [Edited]