\Hair
Mammalian hair is composed of a protein, keratin. It is the same protein that makes horn, fingernails, claws, skin epithelium, and dander.
Mammalian hair consists of three distinct morphological units, the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla. In addition to these units pigment bodies
and other inclusions can help distinguish one hair type from another. A brief illustrated glossary of terms is presented below to aid in the
interpretation of structure accompanying the individual photographs. These terms are largely taken from L. A. Hausman

A set of reference material is provided at the bottom of this file.
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Artiodactyla FAMILY: Bovidae SUBFAMILY: Bovinae
TRIBE: Bovini GENUS: Bison SPECIES: bison
White Buffalo
\Beaver Hair
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Rodentia FAMILY: Castoridae GENUS: Castor SPECIES: canadensis
Tabby Cat
Siamese Cat
\Chipmunk Hair
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Rodentia SUBORDER: Sciuromorpha FAMILY: Sciuridae
TRIBE: Marmotini SUBTRIBE: Tamiina GENUS: Tamias
Terrior (Canis lupus familiaris, variety: Terrior)
Dog Standard
Poodle (Canis lupus familiaris, variety: Poodle)
Silver Fox (Vulpes vulpes)
Timber Wolf (Canis lupus)
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Carnivora FAMILY: Mustelidae SUBFAMILY: Mustelinae
GENUS: Mustela SPECIES: putorius
Click here for more information about Ferrets.
Cashmere Goat
Common Goat
Mohair (Angora Goat)
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia SUBCLASS: Theria INFRACLASS: Eutheria ORDER: Perissodactyla
FAMILY: Equidae GENUS: Equus SPECIES: ferus
Click here for more information about Horses.
Arm Hair
Eyebrow Hair
Whisker
Carpet Beetle Grazed Hair
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Rodentia SUPERFAMILY: Muroidea FAMILY: Cricetidae
SUBFAMILY: Arvicolinae GENUS: Ondatra SPECIES: zibethicus
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia INFRACLASS: Marsupialia ORDER: Didelphimorphia FAMILY: Didelphidae
GENUS: Didelphis SPECIES: virginiana
Click here for more information about Opossum.
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Carnivora FAMILY: Mustelidae SUBFAMILY: Lutrinae
GENUS: Lontra SPECIES: canadensis
Domestic Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Angora (Oryctolagus cuniculus, variety: Angora)
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Carnivora FAMILY: Procyonidae GENUS: Procyon SPECIES: lotor
Fleece Hair
Guard Hair
Merino
Mouton Lamb
Persian Lamb
"Wool"
KINGDOM: Animalia PHYLUM: Chordata CLASS: Mammalia ORDER: Carnivora SUBORDER: Pinnipedia FAMILY: Phocidae GENUS: Phoca
SPECIES: vitulina
Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
References:
References with Photographs and/or Drawings
Click here for the Florida State University "Hair" site.
Hausman, Leon Augustus, "Structural charactreistics of the hair of mammals", THE AMERICAN NATURALIST, vol. 54, no. 635, pp.496-523,
Hausman, Leon Augustus, "Recent studies of hair structure relationships", THE SCIENTIFIC MONTHLY, pp. 258-277,
Glaister, John, A STUDY OF HAIRS AND WOOLS, Misr Press, Cairo, 1931.
Click here for the FBI site for Animal Hair Identification.
Keys Only
Mayer, William V., "The hair of California mammals with keys to the dorsal guard hairs of California mammals", THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST,
vol. 48, no. 2, pp. 480-512, 1952.
Stains, Howard J., "Field key to guard hair of middle western furbearers", JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, vol. 22, no.1, pp. 95-97, January, 1958.
Mathiak, Harold A., "A key to hairs of the mammals of southern Michigan", JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 251-268, October, 1938.
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