Today I Learned (TIL)

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TIL Woodpeckers tongues wrap around their skulls to prevent them from getting concussions. (abcbirds.org)

submitted 3 months ago by partybot@lemmy.ca to c/til@lemmy.ca

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[–] Xanthrax@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It's only to prevent damage, not concussions. They benefit from concussions and the scarring it causes. It's one more part of their "helmet".

Edit: IM WRONG THERE HAS BEEN BETTER RESEARCH AND I CANT FIND THE ARTICLE ON BRAIN SCARRING.

Edit 2: here's a better reason:

"The size and orientation of the bird’s brain safeguard it, the authors say. Even the strongest of wood pecks left the bird brains with less than 60% of the pressure needed to give a human brain a concussion."

https://www.science.org/content/article/contrary-popular-belief-woodpeckers-don-t-protect-their-brains-when-headbanging-trees