“Porcupine”: A Feather Structure Mutation in Japanese Quail

A type of feather structure abnormality in Japanese quail resulting from the failure of barbs to uncoil was found to be controlled by a single autosomal recessive gene, pc (porcupine). The mutation was first identified in two birds from a population homozygous for white plumage color. Porcupine quail have poor egg production, lower fertility, and higher embryonic and chick mortality compared to wildtype or heterozygotes.