BIO220H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 26: Uropygial Gland, Nuptial Gift, Courtship Display
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BIO220H1 Full Course Notes
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Document Summary
Evidence of the relation to dinosaurs include the fact that 90% of their skin is composed of beta keratin cells. The fact is that these feathers first evolved for insulation and warmth. Furthermore, they have considerable uses, among them insulation, and flight but also sound production for example when take-off of doves emit a high pitched sound. Another important one it is now found are blue capped ifrita and other new guinea birds which have found to have had toxins in their skins. They are believed to extract these from beetles it predates on. There is a gland produced by the bird known as the uropygial gland, which is a wax that when spread over the body stops grit and so-on from damaging the feathers as well as removes parasites. This is a very volatile compound that is spread, studies with dark eye juncos where extracting the smells and glands these compounds can spread information about species and sex.
