The Ultrastructure and Elemental Composition in Eggshell of The Tibetan Eared-Pheasant,Crossoptilon harmani

By scanning electron microscopy and inductively couple plasma spectrometry (ICP),the ultrastructure and elemental composition of the eggshell of Tibetan Eared-pheasant (Crossoptilon harmani) have been investigated.The average thickness of the surface layer of crystals,the palisade and cone layer and the eggshell membrane are 9.3 μm,307.1 μm and 64.6 μm respectively,Their proportions to the total thickness of the eggshell 2.4%,80.6% and 17% respectively.There are many vesicular holes in palisade layer,and physiological significance such structure may be of significant to air exchange.The shape of eggshell pore on the surface layer of crystals is circle or ellipsis or irregular square.The fracture surface of eggshell pore is funneled-shape.Some granules fill in the upper part of the eggshell pore.The contents of 21 elements in the eggshell is presented in this paper.