Question

The beak of pigeon is covered with
A. Membrane
B. Rhamphotheca
C. Feather
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Pigeon, several hundred species of birds constituting the family Columbidae. Their smaller ones are usually called dove and the larger forms are the pigeon. Dove is considered as the symbol of peace.

Complete Answer:
- Pigeons live worldwide except in the coldest regions and remote islands. 250 species of them are known. They are gentle, small billed birds with a skin saddle between the bill and forehead. They are a unique characteristic of the bobbing of the head. They have long wings, and they have powerful muscles. They are very strong, swift fliers. They mate for life and the survivor accepts a new one slowly.
- Because of this characteristic, they were said to be monogamous. The female ones lay two glossy eggs and generally incubate the eggs by night. The incubation period is 14 to 19 days. They were very effective as messengers because of their natural homing abilities.
- Pigeons eat grain or seeds and some of them are frugivorous. The size of them varies between 20-25 cm. The appearance varies according to their varieties but all of them are similar in spindle-shaped bodies. The body is visible in three regions, head, neck, and trunk.
- Most of the body is covered with feathers. Their head is small and anteriorly pointed. Pigeons also possess a well-developed exoskeletal and endoskeletal structures. Pigeons possess a well-developed sense of organs to receive the external stimuli.
- The outer surface of the beak of the pigeons contains a thin horny covering of keratin and is called rhamphotheca. Rhamphotheca can be subdivided into two as rhinotheca of the upper mandible and gnathotheca of the lower mandible. The Malpighian layer which is present in bird epidermis helps in the formation of the rhamphotheca.

So the correct answer for the question is option B rhamphotheca.

Note: Pigeons are gentle, plump, small-billed birds with a skin saddle (cere) between the bill and forehead. They are complex and intelligent animals that can identify them by looking in the mirror.