Re: Oviraptor Beaks and Hornbill Crests

[Ronald Orenstein <ornstn@inforamp.net>]

At 09:51 PM 21/03/98 +0000, Scott Robert Ladd wrote:
>The skull of an Oviraptor is often compared to that of a hornbill. Most
>reconstructions show the Oviraptor with a short, rounded beak, its head
>topped by a comb-like crest. The hornbills I've seen, however, have
>elongate beaks and a sizeable tubular crest.

This is true for some hornbills (though the proper term is not "crest",
which in birds refers to a crest of feathers on the top of the head, but
"casque"), but not others.  Many of the smaller species lack a casque or
have only a very small one.  The Helmeted Hornbill Buceros (or Rhinoplax)
vigil have a nearly solid, heavy casque that has been traditionally carved
as hornbill "ivory", which it apparently uses for hammering and
head-butting. For an analysis see CSW Manger Cats-Kuenen 1961, Casque and
bill of Rhinoplax vigil (Forst.) in connection with the architecture of the
skull, Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Nederlandsche Academie van
Wetenschappen, Afdeling Natuurkunde 53: 1-51.  See also Kemp, The
Hornbills, Oxford UP 1995.
--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886
International Wildlife Coalition              Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116
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