FC-17   POLYMORPHISM AND SOME ADAPTIVE FEATURES OF MAMMAL HAIR FINE STRUCTURE

O.F. Chernova A.N.Severtson. Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Moscow, Russia.

Using SEM, the guard hair and spine’s (quill’s)architectonic of more than 300 mammal species were studied. The original terminology and classification of the main hair cuticle and medulla patterns have been proposed, and their diagnostic significance have been shown. To prepare the classification, we use such patterns as a cuticle’s ornament and its scale’s fine morphology and the texture of scale surface as well as an inner structure of medulla layer, especially its organization, configuration of air cavities into medulla channel, and the texture of medulla cell’s walls. We found some patterns which have an adaptive character. The adaptability of these structural patterns have been described. The cuticle design fulfills definite functions and is involved in mechanical protection of the hair (for example, in fruit bats, semiaguatic species), thermogerulation (tropical rodents), in passive and active defence (in porcupines and tenrecs), and also in chemical and acustic communication in some species. The medulla design provides the thermoregulatory function due to inertial air (or other gas complex) into cavities. The wide distribution of various inhabitants of the specialized and usual hair cuticle and medulla was found in the hair studing. Some examples of algae, seaweeds, microorganisms, lices, and pincers inhabiting hair of different species are given. So, hair is an important part of integument’s symbiocenosis.