News tagged with feather
When did the feather take flight?
(PhysOrg.com) -- Some 125 million years ago--more recently than once thought possible -- the molecular structure of the modern feather began to take form, according to molecular dating research by scientists ...
Feb 07, 2012 |
5 / 5 (5) |
3
|
Jurassic salamanders with stomach contents found from Inner Mongolia
Paleontologists from Chinese Academy of Sciences reported two Jurassic salamanders with stomach contents from Daohugou, Ningcheng County, Inner Mongolia, China, as reported in Chinese Science Bulletin online ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Feb 06, 2012 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
How the 'street pigeon' got its fancy on
Pigeons display spectacular variations in their feathers, feet, beaks and other physical traits, but a new University of Utah study shows that visible traits don't always coincide with genetics: A bird from ...
Jan 19, 2012 |
4 / 5 (2) |
0
|
Mystery hummingbird's species identified
A mystery that puzzled Chicago-area birders was solved when Field Museum scientists identified the unusual hummingbird living in an Oak Park, Ill., yard as a member of the rufous species rarely seen in the Midwest.
Dec 26, 2011 |
4 / 5 (2) |
0
Seeing red: Decoding the hidden information on robins' feathers
Red breasted robins are a classic symbol of the winter months and have adorned Christmas cards for over a century. Ornithologists studying the feathers of the European robin (Erithacus rubecula) have discov ...
Dec 15, 2011 |
not rated yet |
1
Scientists use fossil feathers reveal lineage of extinct, flightless ibis
A remarkable first occurred recently at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History when ornithologists Carla Dove and Storrs Olson used 700- to 1,100-year-old feathers from a long extinct species ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Nov 22, 2011 |
5 / 5 (3) |
1
|
Fossil moths show their true colors
The brightest hues in nature are produced by tiny patterns in, say, feathers or scales rather than pigments. These so-called "structural colors" are widespread, giving opals their fire, people their blue eyes, ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Nov 15, 2011 |
4 / 5 (1) |
4
|
Dinosaur species attracted mates similar to a peacock
(PhysOrg.com) -- A new study presented at the Society for Vertebrate Paleontology shows that the Oviraptor dinosaur had a tail structure that allowed it to shake its tail feathers, possibly to attract potential ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Nov 09, 2011 |
3 / 5 (3) |
1
|
Tree resin captures evolution of feathers on dinosaurs and birds
Secrets from the age of the dinosaurs are usually revealed by fossilized bones, but a University of Alberta research team has turned up a treasure trove of Cretaceous feathers trapped in tree resin. The resin ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Sep 15, 2011 |
5 / 5 (15) |
0
|
How hummingbirds produce fluttering sounds during courtship
Though famous for their mid-air hovering during hunting, tiny hummingbirds have another trait that is literally telltale: males of some hummingbird species generate loud sounds with their tail feathers while ...
Sep 08, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
|
A tool to measure stress hormone in birds -- feathers
When faced with environmental threats like bad weather, predators or oil spills, wild birds secrete a hormone called corticosterone. Traditionally, researchers have analyzed blood samples to detect corticosterone levels in ...
Aug 16, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
|
Famed fossil isn't a bird after all, analysis says
(AP) -- One of the world's most famous fossil creatures, widely considered the earliest known bird, is getting a rude present on the 150th birthday of its discovery: A new analysis suggests it isn't a bird ...
Other Sciences / Archaeology & Fossils
Jul 27, 2011 |
4.7 / 5 (10) |
9
Use of mist nets for bird capture safe, effective
A Kansas State University graduate student has contributed to research showing the use of mist nets to capture birds for scientific studies isn't ruffling many feathers.
Jul 27, 2011 |
not rated yet |
0
High-maintenance mallards
The shimmery feathers of a male mallard might have a showy quality that appeals to prospective mates, but the water resistance and self-cleaning capabilities of iridescent feathers pale in comparison to those ...
Jun 17, 2011 |
4 / 5 (1) |
0
|
DNA of kiwi cloaks reveals history of Maori feather trade
(PhysOrg.com) -- A DNA analysis of Kiwi cloaks, the Kahu kiwi, worn by the Maori tribe people in New Zealand, has revealed a previously unknown trade route among early tribes on the various islands that make up the country ...
May 25, 2011 |
5 / 5 (1) |
0
|
Feather
Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds and some theropod dinosaurs. They are considered the most complex integumentary structures found in vertebrates, and indeed a premier example of a complex evolutionary novelty. They are among the characteristics that distinguish the extant Aves from other living groups. Feathers have also been noticed in those Theropoda which have been termed feathered dinosaurs. Although feathers cover most parts of the body of birds, they arise only from certain well-defined tracts on the skin. They aid in flight, thermal insulation, waterproofing and coloration that helps in communication and protection.
For more information about Feather, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
