The two pictures were taken from the same structure I found from Warbling Vireo fecal samples.
It appears in pair, like in the first picture. And I broke it to take the second pictures.
Thanks in advance!
Ming Liu
Just a guess: it could be a genitalia (or part of it) of some insect or other arthropod.
My first thought would be the back end (appendages of last segment of abdomen) of an earwig (Dermaptera), though they don't look quite right for the ones I've googled. I think other orders of insects may have similar rear appendages, but I'm not expert. The lack of mouth parts suggests to me that it is abdominal rather than cephalic. Hope this helps!
The head of my unit took a look at your pictures and suggests that it may be the mouthparts of an orthognathe spider (suborder orthognatha or mygalomorphae).
What's you reason for rejecting the chelicera (+fang) idea? I passed it by our invert guy, and we both think its the chelicera torn/ripped off the head of a spider (other mouth parts torn off).....but any I.D. will be tough after a run through a bird's crop.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Zoology
- Ornithology