Microestrutura cuticular e medular dos pelos de diferentes partes do corpo de Procyon cancrivorus (G. Cuvier, 1798) (Carnivora, Procyonidae)

Abstract

The association of the morphology of the cuticular and medullary microstructure of mammalian guard hairs gives them species-specific properties and, therefore, are important tools for the identification of species. The present study has as objective to compare the patterns of cuticular and medullary microstructures of guard hairs from different parts of the body of Procyon cancrivorus (crab-eating raccoon). For the description of cuticular and medullary patterns, histological slides were made in triplicate of guard hairs from different parts of the body. Entellan® was used as a base of fixation for the assembly of the slides, the slides for cuticle were temporary ones and the slides for medulla were permanent ones. The hair used for cuticular print was diaphanized with 30 volumes of hydrogen peroxide and bleaching powder and was also used to make the slide to analysis of medulla. The cuticular pattern found was “wavy pavement” and did not differ between body parts, but the term “disruptive” was added to the specification “orientation of scale” to define scales that do not reach both edges of the hair The medullary pattern found was “amorphous” and it differed in the specification “width of medulla” in the regions of the tail and base of the tail, presenting an arrow to intermediate width. Hair vacuoles have been observed in some parts of the hair. There was no prejudice in the identification using guard hairs from different parts of the body. It is necessary to intensify this kind of research, standardize used methodologies and nomenclatures and seek objectivity in the classifications of cuticular and medullary patterns, preferably based on quality photographs that support the morphological descriptions.