Species Identification from Feather in Wildlife Forensics

Abstract

Feather is one of the most specific characteristics of class aves that distinguish them from others. It originates from the epidermal layer of skin and covers all over the body of birds. It functions in a fly, protection, recognition, attraction, aerodynamic, and insulation. It varies from species to species and even in different parts of the body by colors, shapes, texture, sizes, and patterns. There are different types of feathers on the body of an individual, like contour, down, semiplume, filoplume. Among this, contour feathers have more importance in forensic science. It is used for species identification in various wildlife cases for conservation and investigation purposes.