beaked

Beaked is an adjective describing something that has a beak or a beak-shaped projection. In biology it is commonly used to describe animals whose mouthparts or snouts resemble a beak, especially birds, but it can also apply to other vertebrates and some invertebrates. The term derives from the noun beak, the keratinous, typically elongated structure that many birds use to feed, groom, and manipulate objects.

In ornithology, beaked describes birds with notably prominent or specialized bills. The phrase also appears in common names. For example, beaked whales are a group of toothed whales (family Ziphiidae) characterized by elongated, beak-like rostra and deep diving behavior. Another notable usage is the long-beaked echidna (Zaglossus spp.), one of the two echidna genera; these monotremes have elongated snouts described as beaks and feed on small invertebrates.

Beaked morphology can reflect feeding strategies; longer beaks often correlate with probing for prey in mud or sand, whereas shorter, robust beaks may be suited for crushing or tearing. The term is also used in paleontology and botany to describe fossils or plant parts with a projecting tip or extension that resembles a beak.

Beaked is not a taxonomic group but a descriptive term, and its exact meaning may vary with context; in zoology, it frequently refers to the presence of a discernible rostrum or bill-like structure.