Hair ID Guide Fall 2009
Hair ID GuideFall 2009Cat Hair
Cuticle: thin, black, scales point to the left
Cortex: gray, average, transparent
Medula: multiple black dotsInteresting Fact: Cats shed very
easily so their hair can be found on many different surfaces.
BEAVER
Cuticle: Light tan
Cortex: Light brown
Medulla: Dark brownSecond largest rodent in the world
Interesting Fact: They do not eat grass and they have no front
top teeth.DeerMedulla: Broken up into smaller pieces all the way
throughCuticle: Dark, Thick Cortex: Transparent, Thick, grayish
color
Rabbit Haircortexcuticlemedulla Rabbits eat their own night
droppings called cecotropes Interesting Fact:
MinkMedulla: Consistent straight lineCortex: Transparent, tan
colorCuticle: Thin, dark brownScales: PetalInteresting fact: Minks
are very agile in water, as well as active on land
DOGCuticle: gray/outermost portionCortex: light brown/surrounds
medullaMedulla: dark brown/center portion
Interesting Fact:A one-year-old dog is physically as mature as a
15 year-old human.
Rat HairMedulla: Center. White Cuticle: Edge of hair. clear
Cortex: Center. Brown. thickRat facts: ~Rats have poor vision.
~A red or pink eyed rat weaves its head side to side to add
"motion" to see better. ~Don't see in color.~Rats don't have
thumbs.
Red Fox
Cuticle: light clear partMedulla: dark center partCortex:
surrounds the medulla and cuticle, thin black lineInteresting Fact:
they are a member of the dog family
CORTEXMEDULACUTICLE
INTERESTING FACT: A skunk can spray as far away as 12 feet and
as many as 8 times. SKUNK HAIR
SquirrelCuticleCortexMedulla
JACKED!!!Can live up to 10-12yrs
Black BearMedulla- ragged, cracked looking, thick
Cortex- black, thin
Cuticle- jagged, thin, black
Interesting fact:A black bear standing on its hind legs is not
about to charge; it is merely attempting to see and smell whatever
it is that has piqued its curiosity.
Raccoon
Medulla- dark brown, thin, no dots Cortex- light brown, speckled
Cuticle- grey, semi-transparentInteresting Fact: The adult raccoon
can weigh up to 21 pounds, although the largest ever recorded was
61 pounds
