Hair specimen: Trichosurus vulpecula (Brushtail possum): Hair from study skin
Most diagnostic features for this species:
1. Medulla a narrow aeriform lattice. 2. Primary guard hairs eye-shaped in cross-section with medium size medulla
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 very wavy with distal shield region, underhairs very wavy
Length (mm): maximum 70
Maximum diameter observed (μm): 70
Colour: Colour band in the shield region
Microscopic features
Primary guard hair medulla: Narrow aeriform lattice (magnification 468x)
Smaller guard hair medulla: Uniserial ladder (magnification 468x)
Medulla: Mixture of types (magnification 468x)
Scales in shield region: Regular wave, near separation, smooth margins (magnification 468x)
Scales proximal half: Diamond petal, near separation, smooth margins (magnification 468x)
Guard hair cross-section (magnification 486x)
Cross-sections; O = overhair, U = underhair (magnification 486x)
Citation
Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Brushtail possum: Hair from study skin
www.landcareresearch.co.nz/hair-identification
Accessed: 28 April 2024