Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
In zoology, a scale (Ancient Greek: λεπίς, romanized: lepís; Latin: squāma) is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopterans ( butterflies and moths ), scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing , and provide coloration.
The scales of birds are composed of the same keratin as beaks, claws, and spurs. They are found mainly on the toes and metatarsus, but may be found further up on the ankle in some birds. Most bird scales do not overlap significantly, except in the cases of kingfishers and woodpeckers.
The body or 'blade' of a typical scale consists of an upper and lower lamina. The surface of the lower lamina is smooth whereas the structure of the upper lamina is structured and intricate. Scales are attached to the substrate by a stalk or 'pedicel'. [1] The scales cling somewhat loosely to the wing and come off easily without harming the insect.
For premium support please call: 800-290-4726 more ways to reach us
Bird measurement or bird biometrics are approaches to quantify the size of birds in scientific studies. The variation in dimensions and weights across birds is one of the fundamental sources of diversity among birds, and even Within species, dimensions may vary across populations within species , between the sexes and depending on age and ...
Scales play an important part in the natural history of Lepidoptera. Scales enable the development of vivid or indistinct patterns which help the organism protect itself by camouflage, mimicry, and warning. Besides providing insulation, dark patterns on wings allow sunlight to be absorbed and are probably involved in thermoregulation.
Flocks of black birds have been spotted in backyards and parks over the past few weeks in the Triangle, causing many of us to do a double take when we leave our homes or pass a large, grassy field ...
In ornithology, the lore is the region between the eye and bill on the side of a bird's head. [1] This region is sometimes featherless, and the skin may be tinted, as in many species of the cormorant family. [2] This area, which is directly in front of the eye, features a "loral stripe" in many bird species including the red-capped plover.