Morphological comparison of Pavo cristatus and Pavo cristatus ALB feather barbules

It was hypothesized that a morphological difference existed between the feather barbules of the colorful, iridescent peafowl and those of the albino peafowl.Previously molted plume feathers from the Indian (Pavo cristatus) and Albino (Pavo cristatus alb) peafowl were collected from the Tracy Aviary in Salt Lake City, Utah. Segments were selected from the eye region of feathers of both species and they were examined directly with the light microscope (LM). Similar segments were prepared for study with the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Portions of barbs possessing barbules were embedded in Spurr’s resin and sectioned for SEM and transmission electron microscope (TEM) evaluation.With the light microscope it was observed that only the barbules exhibited brilliant colors. The barbs and rachis did not. By changing the position of the light source, the shade and intensity were altered, but not the color.SEM images were collected at low magnification (Figs. 1 and 2). Segmentation of the barbules was observed in both Pavo cristatus and Pavo cristatus alb.