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NREM/ZOOL4464–Ornithology Avianmorphology:Part1-integumentDr.TimO’Connell LaboratoryinformationforweekofFeb.22–23,2017Inlabthisweek,wewillbeintroducinggeneralavianmorphologyandcomparativemorphology,focusingonintegument(skinandassociatedfeatures)andskeletalstructure.Inadditiontoyourtext,backgroundinformationforthismaterialhasbeengleanedfromthefollowingsources:Elphick,C.,J.B.Dunning,Jr.,andD.A.Sibley.2001.TheSibleyguidetobirdlifeandbehavior.AlfredA.
Knopf,Inc.,NewYork.Hildebrand,M.1982.Analysisofvertebratestructure.2ndEd.JohnWiley&Sons,NewYork.Podulka,S.,R.W.Rohrbaugh,Jr.,andR.Bonney.(Eds).2004.Handbookofbirdbiology.2ndEd.Cornell
LabofOrnithology,Ithaca,NY.Pyle,P.1997.IdentificationguidetoNorthAmericanBirdsPartI:ColumbidaetoPloceidae.SlateCreek
Press,Bolina,CA.Rising,J.D.1996.AguidetotheidentificationandnaturalhistoryofthesparrowsoftheUnitedStates
andCanada.AcademicPress,HarcourtBrace&Company,SanDiego.Forthislab,wewillusepreservedspecimensfromtheOSUCollectionofVertebratesaswellassalvagedbirds(window-killedorroad-killed).Tobegin,let’slookatskinandotherbareparts.Bill• ramphotheca• maxilla(uppermandible)• mandible(lowermandible)• culmen• gonydealangle• tomia• gape
Specificbeakadaptations• lamellaeforstraining(e.g.,ducks)• serrations(e.g.,mergansers)• tomialtooth(e.g.,falcons)• display/thermoregulation(e.g.,toucans)• cranialkinesis(e.g.,AmericanWoodcock)Toearrangements• anisodactyl• zygodactyl• heterodactyl• syndactyl• pamprodactyl
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Scalingpatternsofpodotheca• booted• scutellate• reticulate• scutellate/reticulateSpecificfootadaptations• webbing–totipalmate(allfourtoesjoined,e.g.,pelicans),palmate(halluxunwebbed,e.g.,ducks,semipalmate(reducedwebbing,e.g.,SemipalmatedSandpiper)
• lobing–grebes,coots,finfoots• reductionintoesforrunning(e.g.,plovers,ostriches)WebbingpatternsforaquaticbirdsFeathersComprisedoftheproteinkeratin–sameashair,nails,rhinohorn,andtheoutersheathofcattlehornsFunctionsoffeathers• insulation• camouflage• uvprotection• flight• display• soundproduction
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Typesoffeathers• down• contour• semiplumes• filoplumes• bristle• powderdown• rectrix(rectrices)–tailfeathers• remige(remiges)–wingfeathers
Featherstructure(generalizedremige)• calamus• rachis• vane• barbs• barbules• hooklets
Indownfeathers,thebarbslackbarbulesandhookletssothereis
novaneto“ziptogether.”Inaddition,thebarbsarelongerthantherachis,makingthefeatherroundinshape.Feathertracts• tail/rectrices• uppertailcoverts• undertailcoverts• belly/vent• flanks• breast• throat• chin• auriculars• lores• orbitalring• supercilium• crown• nape• scapulars• mantle/back• axillaries• primaries
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• secondaries• tertials• alula• primarycoverts• greatercoverts• mediancoverts• lessercoverts
SkeletonBirdskeletonsarecharacterizedbyreductionofbones(toreduceweight),fusionofbones(toproviderigidstructuresforshockabsorption),andpneumatizationoflongbonesespecially(toprovidestrengthandreduceweight).Bonestoknow• cranium(singleoccipitalcondyle;doubleinmammals)• craniofacialhinge• secondarybonypalate• premaxilla• dentary
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• cervicalvertebrae(7inmammals;avg.14-15inbirds)• wing:brachium[humerus],antebrachium[radiusandulna],manus[carpals,metacarpals,andphalanges]
• coracoid• clavicle(fusedtoformfurculum)• sternum(withorwithoutkeel,a.k.a.carina)• scapula• uncinateprocessonribs• synsacrum(fusedlumbarvertebrae,ilium,ischium,andpubis)• leg:thigh[femur],tibiotarsus[tibiaandfibula],tarsometatarsus[fusedtarsalsandmetatarsals],toes[phalanges]
Appendicularskeleton–limbsandassociatedattachments
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Feetandlegs• thigh• tibiotarsus• tarsometatarsus(tarsus)• toes2–4.(#1isthehallux,othersjustreferredtoas“phalanges#_”)
• talons• spursAxialskeleton–craniumandvertebralcolumn
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Withoutitsfeathers,theskeletonofArchaeopteryxwasverysimilartothatofmaniraptordinosaurslikeVelociraptor.AsastudentofOrnithology,itisimportanttounderstandthemodificationsofthatbasictheropodbodydesigninmodernbirds,withanemphasisonthechangesthatareassociatedwiththedemandsofflight.
