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Aves - Neognathae - Gaviiformes - Gaviidae - Gavia - Gavia immer

Sternum (Breast Bone) of a Gavia immer (Great Northern Loon)

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Species Description
The Common Loon, called the Great Northern Loon in Canada and the Great Northern Diver in Eurasia, is the state bird of Minnesota, and also appears on the Canadian $1 coin. It breeds in northern North America, Greenland and Alaska, with small populations in Europe. A specialist fish eater, it has sharp, rearward-pointing projections of the roof of its mouth and tongue, to better handle slippery prey. The Common Loon is an excellent diver, able to dive as deep as 200 feet; its rear-set legs help propelled it through the water, but make for an ungainly waddle on land. The Common Loon runs along the water to take-off, and can get stranded in a too-small pond if there is not enough room.
Skeletal Elements Available

Sternum (Breast Bone)	Right Humerus (Right Upper Arm Bone)	Right Tarsometatarsus (Right Fused Element Consisting of Ankle and Middle Foot Bones)
Left Tarsometatarsus (Left Fused Element Consisting of Ankle and Middle Foot Bones)

External Links
Animal Diversity Web Encyclopedia of Life Wikipedia Great Northern Diver Page