Toucan Uses its Bill to Keep Cool (3 of 6) (IMAGE)

American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Toucan Uses its Bill to Keep Cool (3 of 6)

Caption

The toucan's bill is a vascularized structure that can also act as a radiator of heat. As revealed from thermal imaging, toucans can restrict blood flow to the bill when cold, and when warm, can increase blood flow to facilitate removal of endogenously generated heat. Juvenile toucans, investing heavily in bill growth, however, are unable to make these adjustments, demonstrating that the bill is a significant source of heat loss in the bird during development. This image accompanied the research article "Heat Exchange from the Toucan Bill Reveals a Controllable Vascular Thermal Radiator," by G.J. Tattersall et al. appearing in the July 24, 2009, issue of Science.

Credit

Image courtesy of Glenn Tattersall

Usage Restrictions

Please cite the owner of the image when publishing. This image may be freely used by reporters as part of news coverage, with proper attribution. Non-reporters must contact <i>Science</I> for permission.

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.