Australasian Gannet flying over the ocean, Muriwai, New Zealand

Gannets hunt fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this: 1) they have no external nostrils, they are located inside the mouth instead; 2) they have air sacs in their face and chest under their skin which act like bubble wrapping, cushioning the impact with the water; and 3) their eyes are positioned far enough forward on their face to give them binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately.

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Filename: Australasian Gannet 28_7463.jpg
Copyright: Kimball Chen
Image Size: 3456x5184 / 9.1MB; www.keaphotography.org; Australasian Gannet gannet ocean Pelecaniformes Morus serrator takapu Muriwai New Zealand bird wildlife flight wing span colony
Contained in galleries: Australasian Gannet Pictures - Photos

Gannets hunt fish by diving from a height into the sea and pursuing their prey underwater. Gannets have a number of adaptations which enable them to do this: 1) they have no external nostrils, they are located inside the mouth instead; 2) they have air sacs in their face and chest under their skin which act like bubble wrapping, cushioning the impact with the water; and 3) their eyes are positioned far enough forward on their face to give them binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately.