FEATHERS

o principally of the epidermis and the keratinizing system

o laid out along distinctive tracts, termed pterylae, on the surface of the body
o feathers are nonvascular and non-nervous products of the skin
o modern bird feather is built from a tubular central shaft, the rachis, which carries on
either side a vane a series of barbs with interlocking connections termed barbules
(hooklets).
o The rachis and attached vanes constitute the spathe (figure 6.15b).
o The rachis continues proximally as the barbless calamus, or quill, which anchors
the feather to the body and often is moved by attached dermal muscles.
o Flight feathers are long and the vanes asymmetrical about the stiffening rachis;
o flight feathers on the wings are remiges (sing, remix) and those on the tail are
rectrices (sing, rectrix).
Contour feathers, or pennaceous feathers
o cover the body and usually have symmetrical vanes about a rachis.
Down feathers, or plumulaceous feathers
o lack a distinctive rachis and non-interlocking barbs extend out from the calamus as a
fluffy feather important in insulation

Functions of the Feathers:

• Contour feathers aerodynamically shape the surface of the bird.
• Down feathers lie close to the skin as thermal insulation.
• Filoplumes are often specialized for display, and flight feathers constitute the major
aerodynamic surfaces.
• Flight feathers of the wings are a type of contour feather.
- characterized by a long rachis and prominent vanes
• primary function is locomotion
• for insulation
• Most feathers receive sensory stimuli and carry colors for display or courtship.
• chromatophores in the epidermis provide color to the feathers
• light refraction on the feather barbs and barbules creates some of the iridescent colors that
feathers display