Comparative Study on Different Feather Microstructures of Four Columbidae Species from India

Abstract

Very few systematic studies have been conducted from India using plumology as the emphasis of study. To study different microstructures and morphological differences among species of Columbidae species, four species were selected viz. Spotted Dove ( Spilopelia chinensis ), Grey-fronted Green pigeon ( Treron affinis ), Eurasian collared dove ( Streptopelia decaocto ) and Common pigeon ( Columba livia) from different Indian localities. Both pennaceous and plumulaceous barbs were studied for six different feathers from four different body regions of each species. Morphological characteristics were studied from images of feathers using imageJ and Nikon Stereo microscope (Model-SMZ-445). One way ANOVA of different feathers and barbs length within the species were carried out using SPSS 23 software. Microscopic characteristics were studied from each species for selected parameters. Among the four Columbidae species, flight contour feathers from C. livia was the longest feather ranges 11.5–18.9±2.066 S.E.incm whereas down feathers were the shortest in length from S. chinensis ranging from 2.1–2.4±0.065S.E.incm. The average barb length was longest from the species C. livia (2.977±0.280 S.E.incm) and the shortest barb length was measured in powder down feathers from dorsal side in T. affinis (0.775±0.030 S.E. incm). There was a significant difference present among the different feather types and barbs length. Feather microstructures like presence of villi, presence of three different nodes on barbs and pigmentation on nodes were the species specific identification key for Columbidae species. Our study gives a systematic insight to identification of Columbidae species based on their different morphological and microstructure traits.

Keywords: Columbidae, Microstructure, Plumology, Pennaceous, Plumulaceous, Table-Bird.