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The stratum corneum, the outer layer of the epidermis, consists of flattened cells embedded in a matrix of lipids, primarily cholesterol, free fatty acids, ceramides, and cerebrosides. The stratum corneum forms a barrier to water vapor diffusion through the skin. In birds, the skin limits excessive water loss at thermoneutral temperatures, but also serves as a vehicle for thermoregulation during episodes of heat stress. We measured total evaporative water loss, cutaneous water loss, and lipids in the stratum corneum in Dusky Antbirds (Cercomacra tyrannina), the first such measurements ever made for birds living in tropical rain forests. We predicted that these birds would have high rates of cutaneous water loss because of their need to thermoregulate rather than to conserve water. We found that Dusky Antbirds lose twice as much water through their skin as birds from temperate environments. We also hypothesized that the proportion of cerebrosides in the stratum corneum would increase relative to that of ceramides if Dusky Antbirds use their skin as a thermoregulatory organ. However, we found that Dusky Antbirds did not show different proportions of ceramides and cerebrosides in the stratum corneum than other species of birds. We also found that Dusky Antbirds had low amounts of free fatty acids in their stratum corneum. Overall, our data support the idea that the interactions of the lipids in the stratum corneum may play an important role in determining rates of water vapor diffusion through the skin.

Cutaneous Water Loss and Lipids of the Stratum Corneum in Dusky Antbirds, a Lowland Tropical Bird