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Taiaha: Kurī Canis familiaris hairs

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This factsheet assists in the identification of hairs from a taiaha (long fighting staff). Artefacts, or taonga, may incorporate animal hairs, or animal skins.

Most diagnostic features for this species

  1. Taiaha: Upoko (head) and arero (tongue) D57.192, Otago Museum Collection. Image: Kane Fleury © 2017 Otago Museum, Dunedin

    Taiaha: Upoko (head) and arero (tongue) D57.192, 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: Taiaha. Two long hairs

Collection: Otago Museum

Accession number: D57.192

Hair profile

General shape: Curved (primary guard) or wavy (secondary guard)

Length (mm): 99 - 153

Maximum diameter observed (μm): 55 - 70

Colour: White or transparent

Taiaha. Dog hair collar. Taiaha D57.192, Otago Museum Collection. Image: Kane Fleury © 2017 Otago Museum, Dunedin Image
Taiaha. Dog hair collar. Taiaha D57.192, Otago Museum Collection. Image: Kane Fleury © 2017 Otago Museum, Dunedin
Taiaha. Primary and secondary guard hairs. Image
Taiaha. Primary and secondary guard hairs.

Microscopic features

Taiaha. Medulla: simple or narrow lattice, off-centre. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Medulla: simple or narrow lattice, off-centre. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Medulla: simple. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Medulla: simple. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Scales: irregular wave, smooth to crenate margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Scales: irregular wave, smooth to crenate margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Scales: irregular wave to broad petal, smooth to crenate margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Scales: irregular wave to broad petal, smooth to crenate margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Scales: irregular wave to broad petal, smooth to crenate margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Scales: irregular wave to broad petal, smooth to crenate margins, near to distant separation. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Hair with variety of attached debri. Possibly cotton, wool, other animal hair. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Hair with variety of attached debri. Possibly cotton, wool, other animal hair. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Detail of feather debri attached to hair. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Detail of feather debri attached to hair. Image: Bronwyn Lowe
Taiaha. Root with debri attached. Image: Bronwyn Lowe Image
Taiaha. Root with debri attached. Image: Bronwyn Lowe

Citation

Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Kurī: Taiaha
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/hair-sample-identification-and-factsheets/hair-from-artefact/taiaha-kuri-hairs
Accessed: 18 November 2020