PUFFIN SUPERPOWER
PUFFIN SUPERPOWER - BUILT-IN FISH HOOKS!
Puffins are often admired for their colorful beaks and charismatic behavior, but one of their most remarkable features is hidden inside their mouths: spiny structures that help them catch and carry multiple fish at once.
These backward-facing barbs, located on the tongue and upper palate, allow puffins to grip fish securely while diving for more. As a puffin catches a fish, it presses it against the roof of its mouth using its tongue. The spines hold the fish in place, freeing the beak to open again and continue hunting.
This unique adaptation means puffins can return to their nesting burrows with impressive hauls of sand eels or herring, lined up neatly in their beaks.
The spikes are a key part of the puffin’s survival strategy, allowing them to maximize food delivery during the short Arctic summer when they raise their chicks.
The ability to bring back a "multi-fish load" in a single flight means fewer trips, less energy spent, and a higher chance of chick survival.
Moreover, these mouth structures help puffins compete in ecosystems where food can be scarce or distances between feeding grounds and nesting sites are great.
Surely, it's one of many ways evolution has fine-tuned puffins for life at sea.
Have a closer look at the photos: can you spot the barbs? And, how many tiny fish do the two puffins actually hold in their beak?
Photo Credit: Sarah (captain / head guide)
