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Sternum (Breast Bone) of the Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis (MCZ 347970)


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Phylogenic Position
Aves - Neognathae - Pelecaniformes - Pelecanidae - Pelecanus - Pelecanus occidentalis
Species Description
The Brown Pelican is the smallest member of the pelican family, with an average wingspan of only six feet. The state bird of Louisiana, it lives along the coasts from Washington (Pacific) and Virginia (Atlantic) down to northern Chile and the mouth of the Amazon River, preferring warm coastal marine and estuarine environments. The Brown Pelican eats fish, which it catches by sighting from the air and diving into the water head first, trapping the fish in its mouth pouch. It then drains the water from its pouch (which can hold up to three gallons of liquid) and swallows the fish whole; while draining, the Brown Pelican is often harassed by other birds (especially gulls) that try to steal any fish. The Brown Pelican does not have a brood patch, so it incubates its eggs by holding them under the webs of its feet – essentially standing on top of them.
Specimen Information
Species Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican)
Element Sternum (Breast Bone)
Specimen Number MCZ 347970
Sex
Location
Geological Age Recent
 
Technical Information
Scanner Roland Picza
Resolution 100 µm
Number of Data Points 982641
Number of Data Polygons 1965284
Date Scanned July 13, 2008
Scan Technician Rachael Martinez
Edited By Megan Cooper
 
Photographs


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Download Digital Model Size
STL File Not Publicly Available 98.3 MB
Other Pelecanus occidentalis (Brown Pelican) Elements
Specimen Element
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