Hair specimen: Rattus norvegicus (Norway rat, brown rat): Hair from study skin

Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)
Profile of range of hair types, guard hairs have shireld region

Most diagnostic features for this species:

1. Cross-section of primary guard hairs almost cigar-shaped and more oblong than other Rattus genera. 2. Wide cortex and smaller medulla than other Rattus genera.

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: Guard hairs straight, or slight wave. Underhairs wavy.
Length (mm): maximum 25
Maximum diameter observed (μm): 200
Colour:

Microscopic features

Medulla mid-shaft: Wide aeriform lattice (magnification 468x)
Medulla shield region: Wide aeriform lattice (magnification 468x)
Guard hair scales, mid-shaft: Diamond petal, smooth margins, wide separation (magnification 468x)
Cross sections of guard and overhairs, O=overhair (magnification 468x)
Cross sections of guard and underhairs, U=underhair (magnification 468x)

Citation

Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Norway rat, brown rat: Hair from study skin
www.landcareresearch.co.nz/hair-identification
Accessed: 6 November 2024