Pouch scoops and drains water: pink-backed pelican

1 of 1 Pelican / Andrew Warra.. / License

The beak of the pink-backed pelican is usd to scoop and drain water during feeding via an extendable throat pouch.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

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Biomimetic Application Ideas

Ideas for sustainable fisheries management and gear; non-clogging drains, possibly with moveable parts, for urban sewers, stormwater management, swimming pools, showers, etc. See a design student's concept drawing in the gallery.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The pink-backed pelican uses its distendable throat pouch as a fishing net, scooping fish and crustaceans from the water as it swims. When it opens its bill underwater, the sudden inflow of water carries the prey in with it. Then the pelican raises its head to drain out the water before swallowing the prey." (Foy and Oxford Scientific Films 1982:157)

About the inspiring organism

Pink-backed Pelican
Pelecanus rufescens J. F. Gmelin, 1789

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Artificial - Aquatic, Forest, Grassland, Marine Coastal/Supratidal, Marine Intertidal, Marine Neritic, Wetlands

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Ideas for sustainable fisheries management and gear; non-clogging drains, possibly with moveable parts, for urban sewers, stormwater management, swimming pools, showers, etc. See a design student's concept drawing in the gallery.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Fishing, fisheries, water management

References

Foy, Sally; Oxford Scientific Films. 1982. The Grand Design: Form and Colour in Animals. Lingfield, Surrey, U.K.: BLA Publishing Limited for J.M.Dent & Sons Ltd, Aldine House, London. 238 p.

Pouch scoops and drains water: pink-backed pelican

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