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Microscopic investigation of feather remains from the head of the Oxford dodo, Raphus cucullatus
Author(s) -
BROM T. G.,
PRINS T. G.
Publication year - 1989
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.1469-7998.1989.tb02535.x
Subject(s) - feather , biology , zoology , head (geology) , anatomy , paleontology
Feather fragments collected from the head of the Oxford specimen of the dodo were examined with light‐ and scanning electron microscopy. The material proved to be heavily abraded but still yielded characteristics from which some conclusions on feather type and taxonomy can be drawn. The microstructure of the barbules examined indicates that the fragments belong to the pennaceous feather type. The feathering shows some characters apparently peculiar to the dodos. In other respects the feather structure is more similar to that of the Columbidae than that of the Rallidae.