The avian beak is an external anatomical structure, in the head region, that is adapted for feeding self and young, catching prey, probing, etc. It encompasses, but is not restricted to, the maxilla, mandible, maxillary ramaphotheca, mandibular ramaphotheca, nostril, nasal fossa, nasal bones, egg tooth and rictus[GO]. The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which is used for eating and for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, probing for food, courtship and feeding young. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beak http://amigo.geneontology.org/amigo/term/GO:0071728 ]

Synonyms: avian beak

This is just here as a test because I lose it

Term information

editor note

TODO - add superclass

has related synonym

rostrum

bill

id

UBERON:0005094

terminology notes

The term beak is also used to refer to a similar mouthpart in some Ornithischian dinosaurs, monotremes, cephalopods, cetaceans, pufferfishes, turtles, Anuran tadpoles and sirens