Hair characteristics of four Indian bear species.
Dorsal guard hairs of four species of bear (family: Ursidae) found in India were characterized using light microscopy by studying features including colour, hair thickness, cuticle pattern, medulla pattern, medullary index, cross-section and scale count index. The gross cuticular pattern was quite similar for the four species but a distinct difference was observed in the scale count index. Medulla type was narrow and amorphous with a very low medullary index (< 0.15) except for brown bear which showed a comparatively higher medullary index (0.38) and a vacuolated medulla. By combining together the parameters mentioned above it was possible to characterize bear species on the basis of their hair characteristics.
Sahajpal
V
V
Wildlife Forensic Lab, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun-248001, India.
Goyal
S P
SP
Jayapal
R
R
Yoganand
K
K
Thakar
M K
MK
D000818:Animals; D006197:Hair / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007194:India; D013045:Species Specificity; D001503:Ursidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*