Ablación de la glándula uropigia y sobrevida de Columba livia

MONTALTI D.; GUTIÉRREZ A.M.; SALIBIÁN A.

Puerto Iguazú

Congreso; VIII Reunión Argentina de Ornitología; 1993

Asociación Ornitológica del Plata

The uropygial gland is a bilobed organ present in adults of almost all bird species, with a physiological function over which there is no agreement yet among authors who have considered the subject. In this study mortality of Rock dove Columba livia in captivity was assessed after surgical removal of the gland. Three experimental groups of doves were used: a) non-ablated control, b) sham, and c) ablated specimens. During 60 days, the body weight was recorded and the parameters general appearance, behaviour, plumage condition, and feeding were observed. In all the three groups, survival was 100 %, and neither of the above mentioned parameters was affected by the uropygectomy. It is worth to note the good condition of the plumage of the gland-removed-specimens, thus showing that in Rock dove both mortality and the overall health condition of birds are not associated to the integrity of the uropygial gland.