Hair specimen: Ovis aeries (Border Leicester Cross): Hair from study skin
Most diagnostic features for this species:
1. Absence of medulla in most hairs. 2. Extremely wavy hair profile
Sample
Description: Range of hairs from adult study skin
Sample origin: Brunner and Coman 1974 "The identification of mammalian hair". Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press
Hair profile
General shape:
Length (mm): maximum 150
Maximum diameter observed (μm): 50
Colour:
Microscopic features
Medulla: Fragmented (magnification 468x)
Medulla: Fragmented and interrupted (magnification 468x)
Medulla: Absent (magnification 468x)
Guard hair scales: Broad petal, smooth margins, distant separation (magnification 468x)
Guard hair scales: Broad petal, smooth margins, distant separation (magnification 468x)
Guard hair cross-section. Note absence of medulla (magnification x486)
Citation
Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Border Leicester Cross: Hair from study skin
www.landcareresearch.co.nz/hair-identification
Accessed: 1 April 2025