Light and Electron Morphological Studies on the Upper Beak of the Little Owl (Athene Noctua)

The present study investigated the morphological features of the upper beak of the little owl (Athene noctua) using gross anatomy, scanning electron microscopy, and light microscopy. The upper beak is tough, with a wide base and a strongly curved, sharp-pointed tip. The upper beak gradually increases in both width and height. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that both the tip and lateral edges of the upper beak are covered with numerous irregular keratinized flakes. The upper beak of the little owl consists of a bony basis covered by dermal and epidermal layers of varying thickness. The bony basis is composed of premaxillary bones in the rostral and lateral regions. The premaxillary bone is covered by a keratinized stratified squamous epithelium comprising multiple layers: the stratum basale, stratum spinosum, stratum transitivum, and stratum corneum. The dermis is composed of dense irregular connective tissue containing blood vessels and nerves. The dermis is rich in small capillaries and sensory corpuscles, primarily Herbst corpuscles.