barb
Quick Summary
A barb is a sharp projection, often backward-pointing, that prevents easy removal, like on an arrow or fishhook. It can also refer to a critical remark. In the context of feathers, barbs are the side branches that extend from the central shaft, forming the vane of the feather. These barbs themselves have smaller branches called barbules, which interlock to create a smooth surface. Feathers, unique to birds, are made of keratin and serve various functions, including insulation, flight, and display.1234
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feather…with serial paired branches (barbs) forming a flattened, usually curved surface—the vane. The barbs possess further branches —the barbules—and the barbules of adjacent barbs are attached to one another by hooks, stiffening the vane. In many birds, some or all of the feathers lack the barbules or the hooks,…
Read More…with serial paired branches (barbs) forming a flattened, usually curved surface—the vane. The barbs possess further branches —the barbules—and the barbules of adjacent barbs are attached to one another by hooks, stiffening the vane. In many birds, some or all of the feathers lack the barbules or the hooks,…
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birdFeathers…rachis, with paired branches (barbs) on each side. An unbranched basal section of the rachis is called the calamus, part of which lies beneath the skin. The barbs, in turn, have branches, the barbules. The barbules on the distal side of each barb have hooks (hamuli) that engage the…
Read More…rachis, with paired branches (barbs) on each side. An unbranched basal section of the rachis is called the calamus, part of which lies beneath the skin. The barbs, in turn, have branches, the barbules. The barbules on the distal side of each barb have hooks (hamuli) that engage the…
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