SEASONAL MOLTING IN ADULT MALE RACCOON DOG (NYCTEREUTES PROCYONOIDES)

Seasonal moulting was studied by quantitative histology and external o bservations in adult male raccoon dogs. Moulting of the underfur hairs is characterized by a heavy loss of old winter hair in spring and an intensive growth of new winter hair in autumn. Only few mature and gro wing underfur hairs were found in the hair cover in summer. The new in termediate and large guard hairs started to develop in April and May. All the new guard hairs had developed by the end of June. About 7 and 3.5 months were needed for the growth of new winter guard and underfur hairs respectively. At the end of November the winter fur was mature. The bundles with an intermediate guard hair contained more underfur h airs than the bundles with a large guard hair in the mature winter fur . The thickness of dermis and the grade of skin colour peaked in the a utumn moult, indicating a close relation to the activity of hair folli cles.