Análise tricológica em morcegos do Brasil revela diferenciação ao nível de família (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

O estudo da microestrutura dos pelos pode ser aplicado em diversas áreas, como: zoologia, ecologia, ciências forenses, arqueologia, epidemiologia e paleontologia, além de ser uma ferramenta útil e importante na identificação das espécies de mamíferos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar os padrões da microestrutura cuticular dos pelos de 68 espécies de morcegos ocorrentes no Brasil. Foram coletados pelos do dorso de espécimes depositados em coleção científica (via úmida). Posteriormente esses pelos foram prensados em lâminas para microscopia junto a uma fina camada de esmalte incolor, com o objetivo de marcar a impressão cuticular, que foi observada em microscópio óptico e comparada com literatura específica. As impressões cuticulares foram classificadas em oito padrões morfológicos: (1) folidáceo estreito, (2) conoidal liso, (3) conoidal contínuo liso, (4) conoidal ornamentado largo, (5) conoidal ornamentado descontínuo, (6) conoidal ornamentado dentado, (7) conoidal liso com bráctea e (8) ondeado oblíquo. Foi possível a diferenciação em nível de Família ou Subfamília. A partir da morfologia cuticular dos pelos foi construída uma chave para identificação de pelos de morcegos até o nível de família ou Subfamília (no caso de Phyllostomidae).

The study of the microstructure of hair can be applied in several areas, such as: zoology, ecology, forensic sciences, archaeology, epidemiology and paleonthology, asides from being and useful and important tool on identifying mammal species. The objective of the present study was to analyze the patterns of cuticular microstructure of the hair of 67 bat species occurring in Brazil. The hairs were collected from the back of specimens deposited in a scientific collection (wet method). Later, these hairs were pressed in a glass slide for microscopy with a fine layer of uncolored nail polish for marking the cuticular impression, which was observed in optical microscope and compared to specific literature. The cuticular impressions were classified in eight morphological patterns: (1) narrow leaf shaped, (2) straight conoidal, (3) continuous straight conoidal, (4) ornamented wide conoidal, (5) uncontinuous ornamented conoidal, (6) cogged ornamented conoidal, (7) straight conoidal with bracts and (8) obliquous waved. The diferentiation was possible to the level of Family or Subfamily. By the cuticular morphology of hair, an identification key was made for bat’s hairs to the level of Family or Subfamily (in the case of Phyllostomidae).

Análise tricológica em morcegos do Brasil revela diferenciação ao nível de família (Mammalia: Chiroptera)

O estudo da microestrutura dos pelos pode ser aplicado em diversas áreas, como: zoologia, ecologia, ciências forenses, arqueologia, epidemiologia e paleontologia, além de ser uma ferramenta útil e importante na identificação das espécies de mamíferos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar os padrões da microestrutura cuticular dos pelos de 68 espécies de morcegos ocorrentes no Brasil. Foram coletados pelos do dorso de espécimes depositados em coleção científica (via úmida). Posteriormente esses pelos foram prensados em lâminas para microscopia junto a uma fina camada de esmalte incolor, com o objetivo de marcar a impressão cuticular, que foi observada em microscópio óptico e comparada com literatura específica. As impressões cuticulares foram classificadas em oito padrões morfológicos: (1) folidáceo estreito, (2) conoidal liso, (3) conoidal contínuo liso, (4) conoidal ornamentado largo, (5) conoidal ornamentado descontínuo, (6) conoidal ornamentado dentado, (7) conoidal liso com bráctea e (8) ondeado oblíquo. Foi possível a diferenciação em nível de Família ou Subfamília. A partir da morfologia cuticular dos pelos foi construída uma chave para identificação de pelos de morcegos até o nível de família ou Subfamília (no caso de Phyllostomidae).(AU)

The study of the microstructure of hair can be applied in several areas, such as: zoology, ecology, forensic sciences, archaeology, epidemiology and paleonthology, asides from being and useful and important tool on identifying mammal species. The objective of the present study was to analyze the patterns of cuticular microstructure of the hair of 67 bat species occurring in Brazil. The hairs were collected from the back of specimens deposited in a scientific collection (wet method). Later, these hairs were pressed in a glass slide for microscopy with a fine layer of uncolored nail polish for marking the cuticular impression, which was observed in optical microscope and compared to specific literature. The cuticular impressions were classified in eight morphological patterns: (1) narrow leaf shaped, (2) straight conoidal, (3) continuous straight conoidal, (4) ornamented wide conoidal, (5) uncontinuous ornamented conoidal, (6) cogged ornamented conoidal, (7) straight conoidal with bracts and (8) obliquous waved. The diferentiation was possible to the level of Family or Subfamily. By the cuticular morphology of hair, an identification key was made for bats hairs to the level of Family or Subfamily (in the case of Phyllostomidae).(AU)

The cuticular profile of the aristiform hair as a characteristic feature of Abrawayaomys (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

The cuticle is the outermost of the three cellular layers of the mammalian hair. It comprises numerous keratinized scales, whose morphology, combined with other microscopic characteristics of the hair, confers characteristic signature traits to various different species. This study aimed to analyze whether the cuticular patterns of the aristiform hair had any signature implications for the two species of the genus Abrawayaomys Cunha & Cruz, 1979. We identified the cuticular profiles of A. ruschi and A. chebezi. Both species have similar hair pattern. The base of the hair shows "irregular waved" scales with smooth and continuous edges, and the apex showed "transversal waved" small-sized scales with continuous and ornamented edges. The middle portion of the hair exhibits different cuticular patterns on different sides of a single hair follicle: "transversal waved" on the dorsal side and "narrow losangled" on the ventral side. This distribution pattern of the cuticular scales is an unprecedented record for any mammal, and it is an important generic feature that allows the identification of single samples, such as those found in predators' gastrointestinal contents. The species in question are considered rare due to the restricted number of specimens deposited in scientific collections. Our findings may contribute to expanding the species' geographic range by making it possible to identify it in various situations. These results highlight the relevance of studies pertaining the identification of the micromorphology of the aristiform hair, which can be used as a tool to accurately identify rodents.

The cuticular profile of the aristiform hair as a characteristic feature of Abrawayaomys (Rodentia: Cricetidae)

The cuticle is the outermost of the three cellular layers of the mammalian hair. It comprises numerous keratinized scales, whose morphology, combined with other microscopic characteristics of the hair, confers characteristic signature traits to various different species. This study aimed to analyze whether the cuticular patterns of the aristiform hair had any signature implications for the two species of the genus Abrawayaomys Cunha & Cruz, 1979. We identified the cuticular profiles of A. ruschi and A. chebezi. Both species have similar hair pattern. The base of the hair shows "irregular waved" scales with smooth and continuous edges, and the apex showed "transversal waved" small-sized scales with continuous and ornamented edges. The middle portion of the hair exhibits different cuticular patterns on different sides of a single hair follicle: "transversal waved" on the dorsal side and "narrow losangled" on the ventral side. This distribution pattern of the cuticular scales is an unprecedented record for any mammal, and it is an important generic feature that allows the identification of single samples, such as those found in predators' gastrointestinal contents. The species in question are considered rare due to the restricted number of specimens deposited in scientific collections. Our findings may contribute to expanding the species' geographic range by making it possible to identify it in various situations. These results highlight the relevance of studies pertaining the identification of the micromorphology of the aristiform hair, which can be used as a tool to accurately identify rodents.(AU)