Roeland Bom
@roelandbom.bsky.social
ecologist working @ NIOZ | member of www.birdeyes.org | waders | benthos | flyway ecology | ice skating!
4/4 The bills of Crab Plovers and Beach Thick-knees are strikingly similar. Both are endemic to the Indo-West Pacific (IWP) and crab specialists, yet not closely related. We suggest these bills exemplify convergent evolution, shaped by the ‘escalated’ environment of the IWP. ©J vd Kam.
February 13, 2025 at 11:14 AM
4/4 The bills of Crab Plovers and Beach Thick-knees are strikingly similar. Both are endemic to the Indo-West Pacific (IWP) and crab specialists, yet not closely related. We suggest these bills exemplify convergent evolution, shaped by the ‘escalated’ environment of the IWP. ©J vd Kam.
3/4 Only when swimming crab densities are very low, Crab Plovers will switch to forage on burrowing crabs by playing the ‘Battle of Waits’. Study conducted at Barr Al Hikman in the Sultanate of Oman.
February 13, 2025 at 11:14 AM
3/4 Only when swimming crab densities are very low, Crab Plovers will switch to forage on burrowing crabs by playing the ‘Battle of Waits’. Study conducted at Barr Al Hikman in the Sultanate of Oman.
2/4 Handling swimming crabs can be time consuming. Nevertheless, from an energy-maximization perspective we could explain why in most cases Crab Plovers prefer swimming crabs with 'vast and powerfull claws' over burrowing crabs.
February 13, 2025 at 11:14 AM
2/4 Handling swimming crabs can be time consuming. Nevertheless, from an energy-maximization perspective we could explain why in most cases Crab Plovers prefer swimming crabs with 'vast and powerfull claws' over burrowing crabs.