"Osmetrichia" in the grey brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira)

Osmetrichia have been defined as hairs specialized in the storage of secret ions used in olfactory communication between conspecifics (Muller-Schwarze, et al. 1977). These authors found highly specialized osmetrichia in the ta rsal gland tufts of black-tailed but not white-tailed deer. Chemical commun ication appears to be well developed in grey brocket deer: the bucks scent mark by rubbing their foreheads on hushes, and all deer urinate and defecat e almost exclusively on dung heaps. Brocket deer also possess tarsal tufts. The purpose of this study was to examine hairs from several glandular area s in this species. Osmetrichia, similar to those found in black tailed deer , were found in tarsal tufts and in interdigital gland hairs; these hairs p ossessed open scales with deep pockets suitable for holding secretions, in comparison to the flat scales seen on control hairs. Hairs with different m orphological characteristics (slightly open scales) were found over the fro ntal gland. Specialized hairs were not found in the tarsal tufts of one spe cimen of a related species, the red brocket deer (Mazama americana). The si milarities in the hairs of grey brocket and black-tailed deer are remarkabl e in light of the ecological and behavioral differences between these two s pecies.