Oscar's Unique (and kinda strange) Ears

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I'm pretty sure this isn't normal for doodles, or any dogs for that matter. Its Oscar's ears. I've been giving him total grooms now for 2-1/2 yrs, and bathed him regularly, even, before that. Yesterday after his bath, I noticed something strange in his ear leather for the very first time. Wondering if it was on the other ear, I checked there too, and yes! Both ears have the exact same thing. It looks like a sort of skin pleat on the underside of his ears near the front, that opens to a kind of skin pocket. Has anyone seen anything like this, or is Oscar just a special guy? Personally, I like it. It makes him even more unique and wonderful!

Here's a pic of what it looks like without opening the pocket:

And here it is opened up:

UPDATE: 

After discovering this "unique" formation on Oscar's ear isn't so unique at all, I did a little googling on the subject. I've learned that it has a name, a "marginal cutaneous pouch", which is also commonly referred to as, Henry's pocket (no reference as to where that name originated). All dogs have them, as do cats and bats (possibly more mammals, but dogs, cats and bats are the only ones I've seen listed). There's nothing definitive on what function they serve, or ever served, but there are a few theories. Possibly to help with hearing, or a remnant of gills from when mammals first crawled out of the sea millions (billions?) of years ago, or maybe even possibly to help prevent a dog's ear from tearing during fights, since the flap has a spring like quality to it.  Its interesting, and oh-so-strange I never saw it before on either of my dogs!

[Adina P]

Rosco has this too...probably Boca but I don't recall.  It freaks me out only when trimming his ear hair because I'm afraid I'll catch it if I'm not careful.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Oh, shoot, I was so hoping Oscar was unique! LOL.. I guess I should have looked at Lucy's ears to see if she had it, but it didn't occur to me till now. She's sleeping and I don't want to disturb her, so it'll have to wait. I'm sure it will freak me out too when trimming his ears (or their ears). Thanks for the quick reply!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

I thought all doodles had that.  LOL Both of mine do.

[Ginny Nightingale]

yup! they all have it! And when you groom you have to be careful that you do not catch it in the clipper (if you shave the insides of the ears to keep them clean, as I do--it will clip the skin right off! 

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

yikes - I never even thought of that!  I remember when I first noticed on Charlie because he was almost a year old and I thought - now how did I miss that! I just check both of the boys ears and their hair is not shaved up that far.  So interesting.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

I don't shave the underside of my doodles' ear flaps. Maybe that's why I never noticed the flaps before. After doing more research on the subject, I updated my original discussion. All dogs, cats and bats have these flaps.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Never looked before, but I will.  Thanks for teaching us something new.

[Lynda Kamrath]

All of my dogs have had this.  His ears look nice and pink and healthy.

[Lynda Kamrath]

Oh, yes, and it is also a place where ticks can hide, so check them if you have been in an area with ticks.  We have found ticks in these flaps.