Pelicans have an expandable throat that allows them to swallow large fish without choking. Their anatomy enables them to store the fish in their gular pouch, a pocket located under the beak, before slowly swallowing them.
Pelicans have an expandable pouch under their beak made of very elastic skin that functions like a natural fishing net. This pouch can hold several liters of water and a large quantity of fish in a single catch. When a pelican catches its prey, the pouch inflates enormously, allowing it to temporarily store fish and water. Its very flexible structure easily adapts to changes in volume, without harming the bird or tearing under the weight of the captured prey. This impressive adaptation allows the pelican to conserve energy: instead of making incessant trips back and forth to fish, it catches as much food as possible at once.
A pelican catches its prey by scooping up a lot of water at once, but it doesn't swallow everything it catches directly. First, it slightly opens its beak, then contracts its expandable pouch to let all the excess water drain out. This quick sifting allows large pieces like fish to remain trapped inside while the rest flows out easily. Once all the water is expelled, the pelican tilts its head back, and voilà, the meal slides down its throat. A simple and clever system that prevents it from choking or swallowing too much water with each meal.
The pelican has a trachea that is particularly well separated from the opening of its throat, allowing it to swallow quickly without obstructing its breathing. In addition, its small and rigid tongue serves more as a hook for catching than for pushing food toward the throat, thereby preventing fish from getting tangled or stuck. The inside of the beak is also lined with a slippery mucous membrane that facilitates the rapid passage of fish to the esophagus without getting stuck, acting like a highly efficient natural slide for aquatic meals. Its soft and stretchy tissues around the throat ensure that large catches pass smoothly toward the stomach, minimizing the risk of choking.
The pelican has a series of powerful muscles around its expandable pouch and throat, which act with precision to quickly push fish to the back of its beak. Precise nerve reflexes automatically coordinate these movements, perfectly synchronizing muscle contractions and beak closure to prevent any risk of choking. As a result, once the fish is trapped, it slides directly into the esophagus without blockage or hesitation. Everything works like an ultra-efficient reflex slide, both fast and smooth.
Pelicans have an ultra-efficient digestive system that allows them to quickly process any fish they swallow. Their stomach is particularly effective: it produces powerful digestive enzymes capable of rapidly dissolving bones, scales, and flesh. Thanks to this accelerated digestion, these birds avoid the risks of congestion or fermentation of fresh fish in their bodies. Simply put, as soon as they swallow, they digest, enabling them to seamlessly continue catching more.
To avoid choking, pelicans have a unique anatomy: their trachea and esophagus are positioned to prevent large fish caught while feeding from blocking their airways.
Although capable of holding up to 10 liters of water, the pelican's pouch never serves as a permanent storage place; it quickly expels the water before swallowing the captured fish.
An adult pelican can consume up to 2 kilograms of fish in a single day, which represents about 10 to 25% of its body weight!
Brown pelicans can dive from heights of over 20 meters to catch fish, thanks to the exceptional resilience of their bodies and their expandable pouch, which effectively cushions the impact with the water.
Pelicans usually swallow live fish after expelling the accumulated water from their pouch. Their unique anatomy is adapted for this ingestion without choking or significant discomfort.
Although rare, choking can occur if the fish is particularly large or improperly positioned in the throat. However, their specific anatomy and efficient muscle reflexes significantly reduce this risk.
Young pelicans gradually learn by observing and imitating adults. Thus, they slowly refine their ability to catch, store, and ingest fish efficiently without choking.
Generally, the pelican's pouch is mainly used to quickly capture fish. They hold them briefly to expel the collected water, and then they quickly swallow the fish within minutes of catching them.
An adult pelican can store up to 10 to 13 liters in its expandable pouch, which amounts to several kilograms of fish in a single catch, allowing it to carry enough food for its nutritional needs without having to move constantly.
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