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Hole in an Owl's Tongue?

5/1/2020

 
Picture
Picture
All across the country students are getting ready for their final exams despite the lockdowns, so I think all of you should join in the merriment and feel the joy of taking a 2-part test.

Part 1: Open wide and say, "Ahhhhh!" Take a look at your tongue. Is it barbed and does it have a big hole in it? No? You're probably not an owl then. Good. You passed that part. Those that didn't pass get to eat a mouse.

Part 2: Why is there a hole in this owl's tongue? I'll give you a minute to come up with a creative answer using haiku or interpretive dance.

Answer to Part 2: The hole you see in the back of the tongue is called the glottis. It's the entrance to the windpipe (trachea). When the owl swallows, the glottis acts as a valve and closes so the food doesn't "go down the wrong pipe".
​

Some of you failed that exam, so I'll give you bonus points if you can identify the owl in the first photo. Hint: it starts with "Great".

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    Alex Forsythe

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