The “sixth sense” in Scolopacidae (Aves, Charadriiformes): an overview and a photographic collection

Scolopacidae are characterized by the presence of sensory pits innervated in the central-apical part of the bill, which allow species belonging to this family to locate prey hidden in mud or water with great precision. Although it is known that all Scolopacidae have these pits, the number has been described for only a few species. The authors examined 139 skulls belonging to 25 Palaearctic species (27% of known species) and present a photographic collection of the upper and lower mandibles, in which the sensory pits are clearly visible, their number varying according to species. The lowest number of pits has been recorded in Phalaropus spp., while the highest number has been recorded in Scolopax rusticola. Finally, for comparison, they present photos of the skulls of one species of Recurvirostridae and one of Burhinidae, which also have a modest number of apical pits in the bill.

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