Descriptions and photographs of Plimoth Plantation, a museum re-creation of the original Pilgrim settlement, trace the history and way of life of the first Pilgrims. Includes a discussion of the origin and operation of the museum.

Growth of follicles and feathers, color of feathers and integument; Feather and apterial muscles; Microscopic structure of skin and derivatives; Techniques.

The vertebrate integument arose about 450 million years ago as an ‘armour’ of dermal bony plates in small, jawless fish-like creatures, informally known as the ostracoderms. This book reviews the major changes that have occurred in the vertebrate integument from its beginnings to the present day. Critical questions concerning the origin, structure and functional biology of the bony integument are discussed and intrinsically linked to major steps in vertebrate evolution and phylogeny—the origin of jaws and the origin of teeth. The discussions include the origins of mineralization of major vertebrate skeletal components such as the dermatocranium, branchial arches and vertebral column. The advances that led to the origin of modern fishes and their phylogenetic development are reviewed and include the evolution of fins and replacement of the bony plates with several types of dermal scales. The evolution of reptiles saw a major transformation of the integument, with the epidermis becoming the protective outermost layer, from which the scales arose, while the dermis lay below it. The biological significance of the newly-evolved β-keratin in reptilian scales, among the toughest natural materials known, is discussed in the context of its major contribution to the great success of reptiles and to the evolution of feathers and avian flight. The dermis in many vertebrates is strengthened by layers of oppositely oriented cross-fibres, now firmly entrenched as a design principle of biomechanics. Throughout the book conventional ideas are discussed and a number of new hypotheses are presented in light of the latest developments. The long evolutionary history of vertebrates indicates that the significance of the Darwinian concept of “survival of the fittest” may be overstated, including in our own mammalian origins and that chance often plays a major role in evolutionary patterns. Extensive illustrations are included to support the verbal descriptions. Professor Theagarten Lingham-Soliar is in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

This book contains chapters that discuss the natural engineering and multifunctionality of feathers, embryonic development of the avian integument, the reasons and welfare implications of feather pecking in laying hens, genetic solutions to reduce injurious pecking in laying hens, evidence-based management of injurious pecking, contact dermatitis in domestic poultry, the poultry integument in health and disease, genetics of feather pigmentation and chicken plumage colouration, genetics and breeding aspects of feather coverage and their effects on performance in broilers, the genetics of contact dermatitis in poultry, effects of nutritional interventions on feathering of poultry, effect of nutrition on gut health and maintenance and its impact on the integument integrity, management practices to prevent abnormal feather loss in broiler breeders and business opportunities with the integument. This book is intended for both the poultry industry and for researchers in animal science and welfare at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Provides an accessible, illustrated introduction to how birds are constructed. Organized by body system, the material in the book includes the integument and skeleton, and the digestive, urogenital and respiratory tracts.

The first book to provide veterinarians with in-depth guidance on exotic animal surgical principles and techniques As the popularity of exotic animals continues to grow, it is becoming increasingly important for veterinarians to be knowledgeable and skilled in common surgical procedures for a wide range of exotic species. Written for practitioners and board-certified surgeons with a working knowledge of domestic animal surgery, Surgery of Exotic Animals is the first clinical manual to provide comprehensive guidance on surgical principles and common procedures in exotic pets, zoo animals, and wildlife. Edited by internationally recognized leaders in exotic animal surgery and zoological medicine, this much-needed volume covers invertebrates, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and both terrestrial and marine mammals. Contributions from a team of surgery and zoo specialists offer detailed descriptions of common surgeries and provide a wealth of color images demonstrating how each procedure is performed—including regional anatomy and surgical approaches. An invaluable one-stop source of authoritative surgical information on exotic species, this book: Provides illustrated guidance on surgical principles and common surgeries performed in exotic species Describes general principles, instrumentation, equipment, suture materials, and magnification surgery Covers a wide range of procedures such as small and large mammal dental surgery, avian soft tissue surgery, reptile orthopedic surgery, and primate surgery Includes chapters on surgical oncology, megavertebrate laparoscopy, and minimally invasive surgery techniques Surgery of Exotic Animals is an indispensable clinical guide and reference for all private veterinary practitioners; exotic, zoo, and wildlife veterinarians; laboratory animal veterinarians; veterinary students; and veterinary technicians.

Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds, Second Edition provides a comprehensive reference to the gross and histologic features of diseases seen in pet and aviary birds, with more than 850 images depicting disease lesions. Provides a complete resource for identifying both common and not-so-common diseases in a wide range of avian species Includes more than 850 full-color images to show disease lesions Offers context for the interpretation of pathologic findings, promoting an understanding of the pathogenesis and epizootiology of disease Adds information on pigeons and chickens, pathophysiology, prognosis and trends, and globally relevant diseases Aids pathologists, diagnosticians, and avian veterinarians in identifying lesions in pet birds

Feathers are one of the most unique characteristics of modern birds and represent the most complex and colourful type of skin derivate within vertebrates, while also fulfilling various biological roles, including flight, thermal insulation, display, and sensory function. For years it was generally assumed that the origin of flight was the main driving force for the evolution of feathers. However, various discoveries of dinosaur species with filamentous body coverings, made over the past 20 years, have fundamentally challenged this idea and produced new evolutionary scenarios for the origin of feathers. This book is devoted to the origin and evolution of feathers, and highlights the impact of palaeontology on this research field by reviewing a number of spectacular fossil discoveries that document the increasing morphological complexity along the evolutionary path to modern birds. Also featuring chapters on fossil feather colours, feather development and its genetic control, the book offers a timely and comprehensive overview of this popular research topic.