Feather development non-nervous. They have a tubular central shaft called the rachis; coming off either side of the rachis are the veins, which have a series of barbs with interlocking connections that are called barbules. The rachis and attached veins make up the spathe. The opposite of the rachis is the calamus, which anchors the feather to the body and is moved by attached dermal muscles. There are many different types of feathers that mostly follow this basic design with few variations based on evolutionary needs. Feathers are sometimes referred to as “elaborate reptile scales” just as birds are sometimes viewed as
Calamus Swamp website, Calamus Swamp has a unique plant community. Because of the moist soil, trees such as the American Elm, Green Ash and, in places, Red and Silver maples make up the swamp forest. Calamus Swamp has a wide range of birds and animals: Because the Scioto River is only away, the lake attracts many migrating water birds, such as ducks, geese, grebes, and others. Mammals that have been spotted here include raccoons, muskrats, groundhogs, opossums, and white-tailed deer. The lake is home to other animals including the Ohio fairy shrimp, white leech, horse leech, giant water bug, pond snail, and