• @[email protected]
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    fedilink
    810 months ago

    I love those little legs! I’m glad there are good photographers out there so we can see all these awesome photos.

    • anon6789OP
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      310 months ago

      This pic really highlights the zygodactyl feet. Most birds have 3 front toes and 1 rear. That’s called anisodactyl arrangement, but owls can move that outer front toe to the front or back, much like our thumb can really move around. That gives them a 2+2 arrangement for snatching up prey and getting a strong, even grip, and 3+1 for perching like other birds.

      A new thing i read today was the zygodactyl foot is an example of convergent evolution and is currently though to have evolved on 9 occasions.

      • @maniclucky
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        10 months ago

        That’s cool. You can really see it with Righty’s left foot.

    • anon6789OP
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      610 months ago

      It’s been a long and crazy week for me, so I wanted to cap off the week with the cutest pic I could find!