This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

• Lexulous
• Wordscraper
• Wordosaur

n. The expanse of an open mouth, a bird's beak, or similar structure.

n. A gaping grimace: "his mouth gaping in a kind of rictus of startled alarm” ( Richard Adams).

n. A bird's gaping mouth

n. Any open-mouthed expression

n. The gape of the mouth, as of birds; -- often resricted to the corners of the mouth.

n. In ornithology, the gape of the bill; the cleft between the upper and the lower mandible when the mouth is open.

n. In botany, the throat, as of a calyx, corolla, etc.; the opening between the lips of a ringent or personate flower.

n. a gaping grimace

"I have not yet seen the photographs but I see the word 'rictus' coming to my mind."

gape   

rictal   

contortion    grimace    wolflike    yelp    toothy    paroxysm    lipless    ear-to-ear    spasm    travesty