Vol. 11, Special Issue 8 (2022)

Author(s):
Vinaya Sheela S, G Purushotham, D Pramod Kumar and Mekala Lakshman

Abstract:
Spotted deer (Axis axis) is considered as endangered species and are listed under Indian Wild life Act 1972. Microscopic structure of hair of spotted deer comprised of cuticle, cortex and medulla from without inwards. Color variation was evident between the hair of different regions of the body which varied from colorless to blackish brown. Tips of hair shafts were frayed and blunt. The cuticle was a translucent, colorless outer structure with smooth cuticular pattern but forelimb and tail hair was differed with serrated type of cuticle. The cross sections of hair shaft varied from oval to round shape. Cortex was smooth with cortical fusi in the root end. The medulla was lattice type and its margins were scalloped. Tip of the shaft was devoid of medulla, as it gradually narrowed towards tip and that of the base differed from hair to hair with wine glass shape, tapered, fragmentary or widened medulla. The pigment distribution was found to be uniform, medial and random which varied from hair of different regions. A significant difference of mean cortical thickness, medullary diameter, and medullary index was observed between tip, mid shaft and base of the shaft and also differed from hair of different body regions.