Birds (L.5) Flashcards
(21 cards)
Archaeopteryx
Extinct bird that had distinct and obvious reptilian features (wings and claws)
Barbules and barbs
Barbules - minute filament projecting from the barb of a feather
Barb - spike like structure used for attachment
Beak
Hardened feeding structure
Air sacs
lung compartment containing air
Cerebellum
Portion of the brain, posterior to the cerebrum that functions to provide spacial orientation
Contour feathers
Feathers that cover surface of birds and contributes to their sleek surface shape and colouration
Cloaca
Opening at posterior end of vertebrates other than mammals
Crop
Storage organ of digestive system of birds
Down
Fluffy type of feather that provides insulation
Endotherms
Organisms that generate and maintain their own body temperature
Flight feathers
Large feathers of birds used to push against air enabling flight
Gizzard
Muscular organ used to grind food
Incubate
keep (eggs, cells, bacteria, embryos, etc.) at a suitable temperature so that they develop
Optic lobes
Part of cerebrum specialized for the integration of impulses from the eyes
Retina
Light sensitive surface at the back of the eye
Sternum
Breast bone (located on ventral surface of vertebrates)
Syrinx
Voice-box of a bird
Pelvic girdles
ring of bones around body at the base of spine
Raptors
Predatory bird (has a hooked beak and grasping claws)
Uric acid
waste product left over from normal chemical processes in body and found in urine and blood
Vane
Flat surface structure of a feather designed to catch the wind
