What is a beak?

[Larry Dunn <majestic_cheese@yahoo.com>]

What is a beak?  

What I really mean is this: Is "beak" used as a
scientific term of art, or is it just a generic
expression of an animal's stiff oral structure?  

If so, did (non-avian) dinosaurs like _Triceratops_
really have beaks?  

If not, can we describe the beak of _Oviraptor_ and
other theropods (other than birds) as a "beak?"

If no, what should one call a dinosaur's "beak?"

Or, if yes in both cases, how broad does the
definition go?  Frinstance, does the giant squid have
a beak?

Definitely not beaked,


=====
Larry

"Catapultam habeo. Nisi Pecuniam omnen mihi dabis ad capul tuum saxum immane 
mittam."

http://members.tripod.com/~megalania/index.html

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