How a gannet survives hitting water at 110 km/h

A gannet diving for fish strikes water at speeds up to 110 km/h, putting enormous strain on its head and neck. Scientists from the University of Washington and University of California, Riverside led by Megan L. Vandenberg studied how the structure of the bird's neck vertebrae protects it from injury. The exceptional anatomy of the gannet's cervical spine cushions the sudden deceleration and prevents dangerous neck flexion.

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