barbule

anatomy

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Last updated

June 22, 2026

Quick Summary

feather types Feather types and their distribution on a typical perching bird.

A barbule is a minute barb, specifically one of the small processes that fringe the barbs of a feather. These barbules can further possess even smaller hook-bearing processes called barbicels. In the context of anatomy, barbs are also described as side branches of a feather's shaft. Additionally, barbels are fleshy, fingerlike projections found near the mouths of some fish, which are sensitive to touch and contain taste buds, aiding in food location and selection.1234

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feathered dinosaur
Evolution of feathers
…some point the barbs evolved barbules, the tiny hooks that provide mechanical structure to the vanes and give them aerodynamic integrity. The first such feathers were simple and symmetrical in their vanes, but by the time Archaeopteryx evolved, with its power of flight, some vanes had assumed an asymmetrical cast.
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…some point the barbs evolved barbules, the tiny hooks that provide mechanical structure to the vanes and give them aerodynamic integrity. The first such feathers were simple and symmetrical in their vanes, but by the time Archaeopteryx evolved, with its power of flight, some vanes had assumed an asymmetrical cast.
Read More