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Forensic Hair Characterization of Six Endangered Felid Species of India

NCJ Number
223055
Journal
Journal of Forensic Identification Volume: 58 Issue: 3 Dated: May/June 2008 Pages: 327-341
Author(s)
Rajinder S. Chandel; Mukesh K. Thakar; Surendra P. Goyal; Vivek Sahajpal
Date Published
May 2008
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study discussed the use of light microscopy to examine guard hairs of six highly endangered and protected felid species of India.
Abstract
Results demonstrate that no single hair characteristic can be used for the identification and differentiation of these species; all characteristics should be used in combination for hair examination. The examinations showed a wide overlapping range in hair lengths in all of the six species. This may be attributed to the geographical variations in habitat and different growth stages of the hairs. Only the mane hairs of the P. leo persica showed characteristic length and were much longer than that of all other species. Differences in cuticle scale patterns, scale margin distances, and scale margin types were observed in the three regions (proximal, medial, and distal) along the hair length. The scale margin distance decreased along the hair length from the proximal to the distal region in all the selected felid species. Characteristic scale margins were uniform only in P. tigris in all the three regions, whereas in the other species these were not uniform along the hair length. Highly characteristic scale patterns in F. bengalensis were observed only in the proximal region. Characteristic medulla patterns were found in N. nebulosa and F. bengalensis, whereas in other species it was similar. The medulla indices of P. tigris and F. bengalensis were highly characteristic. The most distinctive hair cross-section was observed in F. bengalensis. Pigments in the hair cortex also exhibited remarkable differences in their color, size, and distribution. Tables, references, photographs

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