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Kurī Canis familiaris: brown dog skin

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This factsheet assists in the identification of hairs from a brown dog skin. Artefacts, or taonga, may incorporate animal hairs, or animal skins.

Most diagnostic features for this species

  1. Brown dog skin D51.4895, Otago Museum Collection. Image: Kane Fleury © 2017 Otago Museum, Dunedin

    Medulla of guard hairs can vary from simple with scattered globular vacuoles to very fine wide lattice.
  2. Cross-section usually a mix of circular and oval shapes.
  3. Large diameter

Sample

Description: Brown dog skin. Three hairs, root and tip absent all hairs

Collection: Otago Museum

Accession number: D51.4895

Hair profile

General shape: Curved (primary guard) or slight wave (secondary guard)

Length (mm): 56 -58

Maximum diameter observed (μm): 50 - 70

Colour: Dark brown grading to pale tan or white at ends

Close-up of hair (Brown dog skin D51.4895), Otago Museum Collection. Image: Kane Fleury © 2017 Otago Museum, Dunedin Image
Close-up of hair (Brown dog skin D51.4895), Otago Museum Collection. Image: Kane Fleury © 2017 Otago Museum, Dunedin
Brown dog skin. Primary and secondary guard hairs. Image
Brown dog skin. Primary and secondary guard hairs.

Microscopic features

Brown dog skin. Medulla: wide lattice. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Brown dog skin. Medulla: wide lattice. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Brown dog skin. Medulla: wide lattice (viewed with crossed polars). Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Brown dog skin. Medulla: wide lattice (viewed with crossed polars). Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Brown dog skin. Scales: regular wave, smooth margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Brown dog skin. Scales: regular wave, smooth margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Brown dog skin. Scales: showing damage typical for artefact hairs. Bronwyn LoweImage: Image
Brown dog skin. Scales: showing damage typical for artefact hairs. Bronwyn LoweImage:
Brown dog skin. Scales: bright coloured areas are contamination, e.g. dirt. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Brown dog skin. Scales: bright coloured areas are contamination, e.g. dirt. Image: Bronwyn Lowe

Citation

Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Kurī: Brown dog skin
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/hair-sample-identification-and-factsheets/hair-from-artefact/kuri-skin
Accessed: (--current date)