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The pore geometry and structure of the eggshell of the North Island brown kiwi, Apteryx australis mantelli
Author(s) -
SilynRoberts H.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
journal of microscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.569
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2818
pISSN - 0022-2720
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2818.1983.tb04195.x
Subject(s) - kiwi , eggshell , calcite , geology , shell (structure) , anatomy , biology , materials science , mineralogy , composite material , paleontology , ecology
SUMMARY The total effective pore area of the eggshell of the North Island brown kiwi has been quantified and found to be only 27% of that allometrically predicted. This has been achieved by a reduction in the number of pores to 53% of allometric prediction and of individual pore area to 66%. A new technique for pore‐casting has been devised using a low viscosity epoxy resin designed for crack‐filling in concrete. Polished and weakly etched sections of the central layer of the shell have revealed an arrangement of calcite previously believed to be unique to the tinamou.