Ornithere: Difference between revisions

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{{RandomExtant|Lumenocula|a jewel-eyed sauceback}}'''Jewel-eyed saucebacks''' are a subgroup of [[sauceback]]s in the family [[Lumenoculidae]]. They are so named because, unlike most saucebacks which are blind, jewel-eyed saucebacks have eyes derived from their nostrils--called "eyestrils"--which have a shiny, jewel-like appearance. Most jewel-eyed saucebacks can flutter or glide, and some species are capable of powered flight.

{{RandomExtant|Lumenocula|a jewel-eyed sauceback}}'''Jewel-eyed saucebacks''' are a subgroup of [[sauceback]]s in the family [[Lumenoculidae]]. They are so named because, unlike most saucebacks which are blind, jewel-eyed saucebacks have eyes derived from their nostrils--called "eyestrils"--which have a shiny, jewel-like appearance. Most jewel-eyed saucebacks can flutter or glide, and some species are [[Wikipedia:Bird|bird]]-like and capable of powered flight.

==Anatomy==

Jewel-eyed saucebacks have most of the same anatomy of other modern saucebacks, but there are many important differences.

Their namesake are their eyestrils. Derived from the scent pits found in all beastworms, they are used for both sight and smell. The pupil is open to allow air in, and as this constraint prevented them from evolving lenses, they instead focus light using mirrors at the back of the eye. In effect, the entire eye is a highly efficient tapetum lucidum which reflects and focuses light into a photoreceptive patch on the inside next to the pupil hole. This causes them to appear to have white pupils, and if ~~one~~ were to look into a jewel-eyed sauceback's eyes, ~~they~~ would see exactly what it sees reflected back at ~~them~~. The eye itself is stretched and squashed to focus and to push out old air, and the external part of it is featherless and rubbery. As having an open eye makes it prone to particles and small fauna becoming trapped inside, jewel-eyed saucebacks produce tears which they then remove from their eyes using the centrifugal force generated by shaking their heads like wet dogs.

Their namesake are their eyestrils. Derived from the scent pits found in all beastworms, they are used for both sight and smell. The pupil is open to allow air in, and as this constraint prevented them from evolving lenses, they instead focus light using mirrors at the back of the eye. In effect, the entire eye is a highly efficient tapetum lucidum which reflects and focuses light into a photoreceptive patch on the inside next to the pupil hole. This causes them to appear to have white pupils, and if you were to look into a jewel-eyed sauceback's eyes, you would see exactly what it sees reflected back at you. The eye itself is stretched and squashed to focus and to push out old air, and the external part of it is featherless and rubbery. As having an open eye makes it prone to particles and small fauna becoming trapped inside, jewel-eyed saucebacks produce tears which they then remove from their eyes using the centrifugal force generated by shaking their heads like wet dogs.

In basal jewel-eyed saucebacks, the spiracles and microlungs are partially supported by chitinous shells called ceres. These are inherited from their harnessback ancestors and allow them to breathe more strongly than most other saucebacks.

===Feathers===

Apart from their eyes, a striking feature of many jewel-eyed sauceback species is their bird-like feathers. These range from the downy plumes present in other saucebacks to complex, aerodynamic flight feathers unique to them. Many jewel-eyed saucebacks have flight feathers, typically located on the legs (remiges) and tail (rectrices), forming "leg-wings" and a tail fan, respectively. Biats also have flight feathers attached to their ears (canard feathers). Similar to [[Wikipedia:Bird|birds]], these flight feathers are used for various forms of aerial locomotion, including fluttering, gliding, and flight.

===Legs and Hips===

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Interbiat.png|Biats

Sausophrey.png|Ophreys

Quail Raptor.png|Quails

</gallery>

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'''Ophreys''' are advanced fliers with short tails and unidirectional macrolungs. Descended from the [[sausophrey]], they include some of the highest-flying species.

'''Quails''' are another branch of biats which have reduced teeth, mobile tail spurs behind the lungs, and a much greater number of eyes. Some species have bundled their numerous eyes into a single main pair of compound eyes.

[[Category:Common Names]]

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 {{Construction}}
-{{RandomExtant|Lumenocula|a jewel-eyed sauceback}}'''Jewel-eyed saucebacks''' are a subgroup of [[sauceback]]s in the family [[Lumenoculidae]]. They are so named because, unlike most saucebacks which are blind, jewel-eyed saucebacks have eyes derived from their nostrils--called "eyestrils"--which have a shiny, jewel-like appearance. Most jewel-eyed saucebacks can flutter or glide, and some species are capable of powered flight.
+{{RandomExtant|Lumenocula|a jewel-eyed sauceback}}'''Jewel-eyed saucebacks''' are a subgroup of [[sauceback]]s in the family [[Lumenoculidae]]. They are so named because, unlike most saucebacks which are blind, jewel-eyed saucebacks have eyes derived from their nostrils--called "eyestrils"--which have a shiny, jewel-like appearance. Most jewel-eyed saucebacks can flutter or glide, and some species are [[Wikipedia:Bird|bird]]-like and capable of powered flight.
 ==Anatomy==
 Jewel-eyed saucebacks have most of the same anatomy of other modern saucebacks, but there are many important differences.
-Their namesake are their eyestrils. Derived from the scent pits found in all beastworms, they are used for both sight and smell. The pupil is open to allow air in, and as this constraint prevented them from evolving lenses, they instead focus light using mirrors at the back of the eye. In effect, the entire eye is a highly efficient tapetum lucidum which reflects and focuses light into a photoreceptive patch on the inside next to the pupil hole. This causes them to appear to have white pupils, and if one were to look into a jewel-eyed sauceback's eyes, they would see exactly what it sees reflected back at them. The eye itself is stretched and squashed to focus and to push out old air, and the external part of it is featherless and rubbery. As having an open eye makes it prone to particles and small fauna becoming trapped inside, jewel-eyed saucebacks produce tears which they then remove from their eyes using the centrifugal force generated by shaking their heads like wet dogs.
+Their namesake are their eyestrils. Derived from the scent pits found in all beastworms, they are used for both sight and smell. The pupil is open to allow air in, and as this constraint prevented them from evolving lenses, they instead focus light using mirrors at the back of the eye. In effect, the entire eye is a highly efficient tapetum lucidum which reflects and focuses light into a photoreceptive patch on the inside next to the pupil hole. This causes them to appear to have white pupils, and if you were to look into a jewel-eyed sauceback's eyes, you would see exactly what it sees reflected back at you. The eye itself is stretched and squashed to focus and to push out old air, and the external part of it is featherless and rubbery. As having an open eye makes it prone to particles and small fauna becoming trapped inside, jewel-eyed saucebacks produce tears which they then remove from their eyes using the centrifugal force generated by shaking their heads like wet dogs.
 In basal jewel-eyed saucebacks, the spiracles and microlungs are partially supported by chitinous shells called ceres. These are inherited from their harnessback ancestors and allow them to breathe more strongly than most other saucebacks.
+===Feathers===
+Apart from their eyes, a striking feature of many jewel-eyed sauceback species is their bird-like feathers. These range from the downy plumes present in other saucebacks to complex, aerodynamic flight feathers unique to them. Many jewel-eyed saucebacks have flight feathers, typically located on the legs (remiges) and tail (rectrices), forming "leg-wings" and a tail fan, respectively. Biats also have flight feathers attached to their ears (canard feathers). Similar to [[Wikipedia:Bird|birds]], these flight feathers are used for various forms of aerial locomotion, including fluttering, gliding, and flight.
 ===Legs and Hips===
@@ Line 89: / Line 92: @@
 Interbiat.png|Biats
 Sausophrey.png|Ophreys
+Quail Raptor.png|Quails
 </gallery>
@@ Line 98: / Line 102: @@
 '''Ophreys''' are advanced fliers with short tails and unidirectional macrolungs. Descended from the [[sausophrey]], they include some of the highest-flying species.
+'''Quails''' are another branch of biats which have reduced teeth, mobile tail spurs behind the lungs, and a much greater number of eyes. Some species have bundled their numerous eyes into a single main pair of compound eyes.
 [[Category:Common Names]]

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