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Olfaction in Rallidae (Gruiformes), a morphological study of thirteen species
Author(s) -
Bang B. G.
Publication year - 1968
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1968.tb08579.x
Subject(s) - biology , olfactory bulb , olfaction , olfactory system , zoology , quail , ecology , endocrinology , neuroscience , central nervous system
Olfaction has been largely overlooked as a factor in avian ethology. Olfactory structure in 13 species of Rallidae (Gruiformes) and in a distant terrestrial ordinal relative, the button‐quail, Turnix , is described. The design of the nasal fossa for the efficient function of the olfactory membrane is reviewed. Rallidae have an average olfactory bulb‐to‐hemisphere ratio of 23%, about the middle of the scale of relative olfactory ratios in birds. The ratio in Turnix is 12·5%. While there is no significant difference in the amount of olfactory equipment in either dispersed or overlapping species of Rallidae, evidence is presented that there are qualitative differences in secretory cells in the olfactory and lateral nasal gland systems. It is suggested that these may influence the reception or inhibition of particular odorants.