Tag keratin

What are the seven types of bird feathers?

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What are the seven types of bird feathers?

Birds of all species have feathers. 

There are a variety of feathers, but all feathers are made of beta-keratin, which is a protein. 

All feathers have similar elements: the calamus (the thick bottom part of the rachis or stem), the central rachis (like a stem going almost all the way up the feather), the barbs (like branches), and the barbules (like smaller branches with hooks that interlock with other barbules).

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Fallacy: A toucan can’t fly because its beak is too heavy

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Is it true that a toucan can’t fly because its beak is too heavy? No, this is a fallacy – it is not true.

The Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) is a large bird in the Ramphastidae family. It has a very large, yellow-orange beak with a black band at the base and a large spot at the tip. 

However, the beak is not heavy.

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The foot: What is the difference between the foot of the Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan?

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What is the difference between the foot of the Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), and Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)?

The Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan are primates with five digits on each foot (five toes) with keratin toe nails. Humans also have five digits on each foot with keratin toe nails.

The Gorilla has shorter, wider digits than the Chimpanzee and Orangutan.

The Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan have prehensile (grasping) feet. Humans do not have prehensile feet (their feet cannot easily grasp objects).

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The hand: What is the difference between the hand of the Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan?

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What is the difference between the hand of the Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), and Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)?

The Chimpanzee, Gorilla, and Orangutan are primates with five digits on each hand (four fingers and one thumb) with keratin fingernails. Humans also have five digits on each hand (four fingers and one thumb) with keratin fingernails.

The Gorilla has shorter, wider digits than the Chimpanzee and Orangutan.

The Gorilla has a wider palm than the Chimpanzee and Orangutan.

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How does a cat sharpen its claws?

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How does a cat sharpen its claws?

Human fingernails and cat claws are made from keratin and keep growing their whole life.

Human fingernails do not retract (go in and out) – they do not go back into the skin to make them invisible. 

Most cats and wild cats have claws that are exposed or protracted when they use them and are hidden, sheathed, or retracted when they don’t need them. 

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Baleen Whale teeth

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Baleen Whales (suborderMysticeti) are large marine (saltwater) mammals in the Cetacea family of whales, porpoises, and dolphins. They are cetaceans. 

There are 12 species of Baleen Whales including the Bowhead Whale (Balaena mysticetus), Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), Blue Whale (Balaenoptera musculus), and Gray Whale (Eschrichtius robustus). 

Baleen Whales live in cold oceans, such as the Artic Ocean and the Antarctic Ocean. They grow up to 600-3100 centimetres (20-102 feet) long.

Baleen Whales do not have teeth. 

Baleen Whales have keratin baleen plates instead of teeth. Human hair is made of keratin. 

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Indian Crested Porcupine

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The Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica) is a large rodent mammal in the Hystrididae family. 

The Indian Crested Porcupine is a stocky animal. It is black and covered with multiple layers of hair, called quills. The quills, made of keratin, are brown or black with black and white bands. Each quill has a muscle at its base, which enables it to rise and fall. The quills are not firmly attached, so they can easily come out. When these quills are vibrated, they produce a hiss-like rattle.

The Indian Crested Porcupine has broad feet with long claws that enable it to burrow into the ground. It has four toes on it front feet and five toes on its back feet. Its eyes and ears are small, and its nostrils are large. It has sharp teeth. 

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Antelope Horns

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Antelope horns are hard and hollow, growing from their skull, at the front of their head. They are made of keratin, which is the same material as human fingernails.

Antelope horns are not shed – they are permanent.

Different antelope species have horns of different sizes and shapes. The 91 species of antelopes (mostly from Africa) include the blackbuck, dik-dik, duiker, eland, gazelle, gerenuk, hartebeest, impala, kudu, oryx, reedbuck, steenbok, and wildebeest.

The following is an example of the different types of antelope horns:

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Mexican Green Rattler

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The Mexican Green Rattler (Crotalus basiliscus) is a venomous pit viper, native to western Mexico. It is a snake, and a reptile.

The Mexican Green Rattler has a plump body with brown or grey scales. Its scales are diamond (rhombus) shaped with light edges. Its underbelly is creamy-white. It has a large, distinct grey-brown head. Its tail is dark grey with few markings. On the tip of the tail is its cream-coloured rattle.

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What is an ungulate?

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An ungulate is a large hoofed mammal. Terrestrial (land) ungulates include the horse, donkey, rhinoceros, hippopotamus, cow, pig, giraffe, llama, alpaca, tapir, camel, goat, deer, yak, etc.

Ungulate means ‘being hoofed.’ The foot of an ungulate has a hard or rubbery sole, and a hard nail, which contains keratin.

Hooves grow continuously even when broken or damaged – the same as human toe nails, finger nails and hair, which are also made of keratin.

Hooves can be odd-toed or even-toed – i.e. one, two, three, or four toes.

 

Photographer: Martina Nicolls

Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

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