Re: Forelimb Feathers in Penguins

[Mike Habib <habib@jhmi.edu>]

The forelimbs of penguins are feathered, but the feathers are very  
reduced in size.  The contour of the forelimb foil is formed from the  
skeletalmuscular morphology, rather than the feather surface (the  
feathers simply "coat" the forelimb).

Cheers,

--Mike


On Oct 31, 2008, at 5:12 PM, Scott Selberg wrote:

> With all the new maniraptor discoveries in recent years, a wide  
> range of forelimb feathering has been found preserved, often defying  
> what one would expect.Along these lines, I've been looking at photos  
> of penguin flippers.In the photos it is hard to tell what is feather  
> and what might be scaly.Does anyone out there have any  
> knowledge,first-hand or otherwise on this? Are these feathers unique  
> to penguins?If the flippers are scaly, is it the same as hind-foot  
> scales?
> Scott Selberg
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Michael Habib, M.S.
PhD. Candidate
Center for Functional Anatomy and Evolution
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
1830 E. Monument Street
Baltimore, MD 21205
(443) 280-0181
habib@jhmi.edu