Osteology of the Feeding Apparatus of Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis (Aves: Phoenicopteridae).

Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) feed using a uniquely adapted bill that extracts small particles from the water and sediments. This study provides a detailed osteological description of the skull of the Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis), with particular emphasis on feeding-related features. The skull exhibits a broad, flattened frontal region that articulates with an elongated upper jaw, which is deflected ventrally at approximately 45° and aligns seamlessly with the laterorostrally curved mandible, forming a configuration well suited for filter feeding. The mandible exhibits a low mechanical advantage, indicating an adaptation for rapid and repetitive movements rather than forceful biting. Jaw muscle attachment sites, including the fossa subtemporalis, fossa temporalis, and fossa ventralis palatini, are reduced, suggesting the presence of relatively small muscles that favor speed and precision.