Morphological and Histochemical Description of Quail Feather Development

The current study investigated the macroscopic and microscopic differences between pennaceous and plumulaceous feathers. The morphology of the barbules distinguished pennaceous and plumulaceous feathers, particularly the shape of barbules during their development. In pennaceous feathers, the initial barbules were large and elongated or pyriform in shape, while plumulaceous feathers had small, thin, elongated initial barbules. The spinous barbules were characteristic of pennaceous feathers. The histochemical reactivity of both feather types for Mallory trichrome, orange G, and acridine orange, safranin O, PAS, and methylene blue was determined. Keratin was detected by Mallory trichrome, orange G, and acridine orange. In conclusion, the histochemical properties of pennaceous and plumulaceous feathers of quail, particularly the distribution and nature of keratin during development, should be considered in future studies. The unique morphological features of pennaceous and plumulaceous feathers could be used as a guide for phylogenetic identification. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy Anat Rec, 303:1865-1883, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.