Proteins of beaks, possible use in taxonomy of birds

Abstract

The electrophoretic patterns of the keratin proteins from birds' beaks were studied to determine their value as an aid in classification and identification. Beak proteins from 32 individuals, representing 7 orders, 13 families and 26 species of Australian birds, have been compared by electrophoresis on cellulose acetate membranes at pH 8.9. It was concluded that electrophoretic patterns of individuals within a species are identical apart from minor differences in band intensities. Several cases of species-specificity were observed, although birds from different species within a genus did not invariably have dissimilar patterns. Different genera within a family had significantly different patterns, although there was no constant level of difference between related genera. The study was not sufficiently comprehensive to provide taxonomic information, being heavily weighted towards psittacine birds. Nevertheless it appeared that electrophoresis of beak proteins is a more discriminating tool for distinguishing taxonomic differences than is electrophoresis of feather proteins, and might conceivably provide an additional technique for taxonomists.