Tricho-Taxonomic Studies for Identification of Wild Boar, Sus Scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 by Dorsal Guard Hairs (Suidae: Artiodactyla: Mammalia)

Abstract

The macroscopic and microscopic charactersof dorsal guard hairs of Sus scrofaLinnaeus, 1758 were examined using optical light and scanning electron microscopes for species identification. The hair of Sus scrofa is characterised by brown coat with tinged grey colour hairs, the profile is straight, thicker in diameter (109.4 ± 41.1μm) and have distinct microscopic characters such as irregular wave pattern and close margin of cuticular scales, unicellular regular and simple medulla, and circular shape. The micro and macroscopic characters of dorsal guard hairs can be used predator diet analysis as well as in forensic science as an appropriate reference for the species identification.