What animals have epidermal scales?

Epidermal scales are horny, tough extensions of the stratum corneum. Well developed in reptiles, they are also common on exposed skin in birds and mammals. Such scales are periodically molted or shed gradually along with the rest of the stratum corneum.

What is bird scale?

In birds, there are two major integument appendages: scales on the foot and feathers on most of the rest of the body [2••]. Scales provide protection and prevent water loss. Avian reticulate scales are similar in shape to reptile tuberculate scales.

What types of skin do birds have?

Birds have a thin and delicate epidermis, or skin, compared to other vertebrates. Their skin produces specialized structures called feathers, which is one of the unique characteristics of birds. Feathers are made up of keratin, a flexible protein that also forms the hair and fingernails of mammals.

What are the dermal scales?

Dermal scales are small flat disks set in pockets in the transverse ridges of the skin. Each pocket contains several scales of various sizes. A ring of “hypomineralization” of varying diameter may occur on scales of a particular dermal pocket but bears no relation to the diameter of these scales.

Do birds have sebaceous glands?

Most birds have sebaceous secretory glands at the base of the tail and in the ear canals. Feathers are the most numerous, elaborate, and diverse of avian integumentary derivatives.

Do birds have dermal bones?

Dermal scales are found almost exclusively in fishes and some reptiles. They are bony plates that fit closely together or overlap and form the dermal skeleton. Birds lack dermal scales, and only a single living mammal—the armadillo—displays them. …

Do birds scale?

Scales. The scales of birds are composed of keratin, like beaks, claws, and spurs. They are found mainly on the toes and tarsi (lower leg of birds), usually up to the tibio-tarsal joint, but may be found further up the legs in some birds.

Are bird feet scaled?

Birds’ feet are covered with heavily scaled skin. This “scaly” skin is helpful because it actually strengthens the foot. Birds can’t wear shoes, so they need this scaly skin to help prevent wear and tear due to walking and perching. A bird’s feet and toes are made up mostly of tough tendons and bones.

Which is the integument of birds?

Avian integument is thin, elastic, and loosely attached to the body, giving birds the freedom of movement needed for flight. Its epidermis is both keratinized and lipogenic, and the skin as a whole acts as a sebaceous secretory organ.

Why is bird skin yellow?

An xanthoma is a mass or thickened area of the skin which is orange-yellow in color and dimpled like an orange. They are clumps of cholesterol combined with lipids (fat) that are most often found in female budgies and cockatiels, but can be found in any breed or sex of bird.

What is cycloid and Ctenoid scales?

Cycloid and ctenoid scales are found in the majority of bony fishes (the Teleostei). Cycloid and ctenoid scales consist of two main regions, a surface ‘bony’ layer, composed of an organic framework impregnated largely with calcium based salts, and a deeper fibrous layer composed mainly of collagen.

What are the 4 skin derivatives?

The derivatives of the skin include sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and mammary glands, hair, hair follicles, and nails.