Structural interspecies variability of mammals' hairs

Abstract

Hairs are fundamental structures for mammals, serving crucial functions such as thermal insulation and hydrophobicity. In domestic animals, hair is also a valuable source of high-performance fibers for the textile industry, which has led to intensive study. However, there is limited comparative knowledge about the physical properties of hair across different wild mammalian species. In our lab, we are investigating the physical properties of hairs from a diverse range of wild mammalian species, laying the groundwork for an in-depth comparative study. These physical properties can be linked to the internal structures of the hairs. Using polarized light microscopy, we can visualize the internal structure of hairs, which are composed of a hollow channel (medulla) surrounded by a cortex and a keratin cuticle(1). By examining the brown hairs of three distinct mammals—the Patagonian mara, the brown bear, and the Amur tiger—we observe striking differences in their internal structures. We speculate that these structural differences correspond to varying physical properties, which we are currently investigating.