W. Meyer et al., A COMPUTER-ASSISTED METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF HAIR CUTICULA PATTERNS IN MAMMALS, Berliner und Munchener Tierarztliche Wochenschrift, 110(3), 1997, pp. 81-85
The study describes a rather simple, computer-assisted method for the
determination of different mammalian species or groups with the aid of
the cuticula pattern of guard hairs (primary hairs) following SEM pre
sentation. The method is based on an image analysis program developed
for metallographic investigations, and includes the evaluation of five
parameters (scale area, scale perimeter, number of scales per mm(2),
ratio of scale width and height, scale index). The scale index as a co
mbination of scale numbers per square unit and the width/height ratio
proved to be most useful for a relevant species or group identificatio
n of mammals according to the hair cuticula pattern.