A study of hair characteristics of forty-two species of South African Muridae and the taxonomic application of these characteristics as definitive criteria.

In this study cuticular scale patterns, groove size and hair measurements have been used as definitive criteria in identification of 42 species of the family Muridae. Keys for the use in identification have been made and detailed descriptions of the hairs of each species, together with micrographs of gelatin imprints and scanning electron micrographs are presented. The taxonomic and practical uses of this method are discussed. It has been found that the cuticular scale pattern on hairs of South African Murid species studied shows a remarkable specific constancy.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Department of Biological Sciences

Year dc:date.issued

1975

Author dc:creator

• Keogh, Hillary Joan

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Jarvis, J U M

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/12325

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/12325