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Norway rat Rattus norvegicus: hair from study skin

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This factsheet assists in the identification of a range of hairs from a Norway rat (brown rat) adult study skin.

Most diagnostic features for this species

  1. Norway rat [Rattus norvegicus]. Image: AnemoneProjectors [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

    Norway rat [Rattus norvegicus]. Image: AnemoneProjectors [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

    Cross-section of primary guard hairs almost cigar-shaped and more oblong than other Rattus genera.
  2. Wide cortex and smaller medulla than other Rattus genera.

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 straight, or slight wave. Underhairs wavy.

Length (mm): maximum 25

Maximum diameter observed (μm): 200

Norway rat. Profile of range of hair types, guard hairs have shield region. Image
Norway rat. Profile of range of hair types, guard hairs have shield region.

Microscopic features

Norway rat. Medulla mid-shaft: wide aeriform lattice (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image
Norway rat. Medulla mid-shaft: wide aeriform lattice (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Norway rat. Medulla shield region: wide aeriform lattice (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image
Norway rat. Medulla shield region: wide aeriform lattice (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Norway rat. Guard hair scales, shield region: broad petal, smooth margins, distant separation (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image
Norway rat. Guard hair scales, shield region: broad petal, smooth margins, distant separation (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Norway rat. Guard hair scales, mid-shaft: diamond petal, smooth margins, wide separation (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image
Norway rat. Guard hair scales, mid-shaft: diamond petal, smooth margins, wide separation (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Norway rat. Cross sections of guard and overhairs, O=overhair (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image
Norway rat. Cross sections of guard and overhairs, O=overhair (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
Norway rat. Cross sections of guard and underhairs, U=underhair (magnification 468x). Image: © Brunner H, Coman B. 1974. The Identification of Mammalian Hair. Inkata Press, Melbourne. Image
Norway rat. Cross sections of guard and underhairs, U=underhair (magnification 468x). 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: Norway rat, brown rat: Hair from study skin
https://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/tools-and-resources/identification/hair-sample-identification-and-factsheets/hair-from-animal-or-animal-skin/norway-rat-study-skin
Accessed: (--current date)