Brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula: hair from study skin

This factsheet assists in the identification of sample hairs the study skin of a brushtail possum.

Most diagnostic features for this species

Brushtail possum [Trichosurus vulpecula]

Medulla a narrow aeriform lattice.
Primary guard hairs eye-shaped in cross-section with medium size medulla

Sample

Description: Range of hairs from adult study skin

Sample origin: Brunner and Coman 1974 "The identification of mammalian hair". Melbourne, Australia: Inkata Press

Hair profile

General shape: Guard hairs very wavy with distal shield region, underhairs very wavy

Length (mm): maximum 70

Maximum diameter observed (μm): 70

Colour: Colour band in the shield region

Brushtail possum: Profile of guard hairs and underhairs.

Microscopic features

Brushtail possum. Primary guard hair medulla: narrow aeriform lattice (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Primary guard hair medulla: narrow aeriform lattice (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Brushtail possum. Smaller guard hair medulla: uniserial ladder (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Smaller guard hair medulla: uniserial ladder (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Brushtail possum. Medulla: mixture of types (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Medulla: mixture of types (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Brushtail possum. Scales in shield region: regular wave, near separation, smooth margins (magnification 468x). © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Scales in shield region: regular wave, near separation, smooth margins (magnification 468x). © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Brushtail possum. Scales proximal half: diamond petal, near separation, smooth margins (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Scales proximal half: diamond petal, near separation, smooth margins (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Brushtail possum. Guard hair cross-section (magnification 486x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Guard hair cross-section (magnification 486x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Brushtail possum. Cross-sections; O = overhair, U = underhair (magnification 486x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image — Brushtail possum. Cross-sections; O = overhair, U = underhair (magnification 486x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Citation

Lowe B, Wehi PM. 2017. New Zealand hair identification factsheets: Brushtail possum: Hair from study skin
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/hair-sample-identification-and-factsheets/hair-from-animal-or-animal-skin/brushtail-possum
Accessed: 16 November 2020 (-- current date)