Researchers Take Close Look at Moose Nose

Yahoo News ^ | May 6, 2004 | By DAVID SHARP, Associated Press Writer

[aculeus]

PORTLAND, Maine - Spindly legs and oversize antlers are all part of the moose's charm, but it's that big bulbous nose that makes it a cartoonist's dream.

Two researchers intrigued by the size and shape of the moose's nose decided to take a closer look, providing the first detailed anatomical analysis of the unconventional snout that hangs over the front lip of Maine's official animal.

Among their findings: the nose's structure allows moose to close their nostrils while foraging for aquatic plants.

Lawrence Witmer, a professor of anatomy at Ohio University, has studied the noses of many animals alive and extinct, from the common white-tailed deer to prehistoric creatures such as duck-billed dinosaurs.

He said he was surprised by the lack of research on the moose muzzle, so he and graduate student Andy Clifford went to work. Their findings were published last month in the Journal of Zoology in London.

"We know little about the moose nose, despite the fact that they're common animals in the northern half of the hemisphere," Witmer said in a telephone interview from his office in Athens, Ohio.

The moose is the largest creature in the Maine woods, reaching more than 1,000 pounds. Its nose, with nostrils up to four inches wide, droops over its front lips, setting it apart from the white-tailed deer and other cousins.

As part of their research, Witmer and Clifford examined the heads of moose that were hit and killed by motorists in Canada.

They used hospital equipment to examine the internal anatomy and dissected the samples to get a closer look at the physical structure, including nerves, cartilage and other components.

The researchers were able to discount the idea that the large size of the nasal cavity had something to do with heat regulation.

They also looked at whether the widely spaced nostrils gave the creatures any special capabilities, such as stereo olfaction. But they weren't able to make a conclusive determination.

One of their most striking findings was that the nose has a mechanism for keeping water out when the moose wades into a pond and plunges underwater to pluck aquatic plants to eat.

"Moose, as it turns out, have a mechanism to close their nostrils," Witmer said. "It's part of this crazy nostril apparatus that moose have changed their faces to develop."

Witmer's Web site: http://www.oucom.ohiou.edu/dbms-witmer/

[nmh]

Of course this amazing anatomy was due to evolution.

LOL!

Only now are mere mortals figuring out just how sophisticated this animal is.

[Thinkin' Gal]

"Say 'cheese'!"

[blanknoone]

If they're studying the moose that bit my sister, they are in for some seriesly hugh discoveries.

[billorites]

Jellied Moose Nose

      1    Upper jawbone of a moose
      1    Onion; sliced
      1    Garlic clove
      1 tb Mixed pickling spice
      1 ts Salt
    1/2 ts Pepper
    1/4 c  Vinegar

1. Cut the upper jaw bone of the moose just below the eyes.

2. Place in a large kettle of scalding water and boil for 45 minutes.

3. Remove and chill in cold water.

4. Pull out all the hairs - these will have been loosened by the boiling and should come out easily  (like plucking a duck).

5. Wash thoroughly until no hairs remain.

6. Place the nose in a kettle and cover with fresh water.

7. Add onion, garlic, spices and vinegar

8. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the meat is tender. Let cool  overnight in the liquid.

9. When cool, take the meat out of the broth, and remove and discard the bones and the cartilage. You will have two kinds of meat, white meat from the bulb of the nose, and thin strips of dark meat from along the bones and jowls.

10. Slice the meat thinly and alternate layers of white and dark meat in a loaf pan.

11. Reheat the broth to boiling, then pour the broth over the meat in the loaf pan.

12. Let cool until jelly has set. Slice and serve cold.
    
    "Northern Cookbook" from the Ministry of Indian Affairs, Ottawa, Canada,
    edited by Eleanor A. Ellis

Collected by Bert Christensen
Toronto, Ontario

http://bertc.com
-----

[Thinkin' Gal]

Boy does that look tasty. And to think I recently departed Maine, mooseless. :-(

[mollynme]

May I be the first to say

EEEWWWWW

[babaloo999]

Of course, that moose wouldn't have bit her if she wasn't carving her initials on it.

[Starboard]

He said he was surprised by the lack of research on the moose muzzle, so he and graduate student Andy Clifford went to work.

Its more like he was totally surprised by the heretofore lack of effort by his colleagues in the academic community to get grants to do research in this previously untapped area, so he and the grad student immediately set out to exploit this new found source of funds.

[thackney]

bump for later

[Williams]

Because moose have always been known to spend time in water up to their noses, and because there are other animals with big noses that go in the water (hippo) I suspect it has been known for a LONG time that moose have a mechanism in their noses to prevent breathing in water. One advatage of being older is realizing everything keeps getting re- "discovered".

[EggsAckley]

As the Moose said to my sister, "Okay, I'll bite."

[Lijahsbubbe]

They could name her "Barbra"!

[Fester Chugabrew]

Republicans have the venerable elephant. Democrats have the braying jackass. Freepers have the big-nosed moose.

[dts32041]

I see baldi has been posing for pictures again, while trying to figure out how to tax his brethren more

[Lijahsbubbe]

Scratch that. She's cuter than Barbra.

[Kenny Bunk]

Ayuh, had it just last night. Took on quite a charge. Put some fiddle-head ferns, water cress, and cattail roots on that plate, too.

But see here now, I don't want no fightin' with the neighbors over road kill. Some of these characters ain't just takin' the nose, they're going for the meat.

That's where the shoe pinches. That meat's supposed to go over to the orphanage. Must be new people from over to Messachewshitts.

[SheLion]

I see baldi has been posing for pictures again, while trying to figure out how to tax his brethren more

He WISHES he looked that good. LOL!

That guy would make "FOUR" of Baldy. haha!!!!!

[SheLion]

"Say 'cheese'!"

Nice butt. hahaha

I saw my first moose of the season Thursday. She was right up by the road, and I slowed down to take a look. She just stared at me. Some more cars were coming and I kept kitting my brakes so they would slow down behind me. Pretty soon, she turned and ran back into the roads.

They are so ugly they are cute. But boy! Can they do some damage to a vehicle when they run out in front of you!

[SheLion]

"Say 'cheese'!"

I don't drink honest. But I said "nice butt?" You probably think I'm drunk.

Taking a closer look, I see that it's the FACE of the moose, NOT the butt! Hahaaaaaaaaaa

me bad............goodness. I need to wake UP! LOL