Did
you observe that hummers hover above flowers to get nectar, and monarch
butterflies land on the blossoms? They also have different ways of
getting at the sweet food deep in the bloom: sipping and licking!
A monarch adult sips nectar using a sucking tube
that's like a soda straw. This proboscis is coiled under
its head when it's not in use. A hummingbird's long
grooved tongue comes out of its long beak to lap up nectar. The sweet
fluid flows up the grooves into its mouth. Click "next"
to see how its beak is also adapted for a special type of food.
Click
for larger photos. Look for the mouth parts that help each
creature drink! |
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Photos:
Bud Hensley, Russ Thompson |