A Study On The Winter Pelage Characteristics Of Captive Arctic Fox (Alopex Lagopus) In Mohe, Heilongjiang, China

Pelage is found only in mammals, the characteristics of the morphology of hair differs with species, and the diversity of hair is not only exhibited in the species divergence, but also in the process of the dynamic adaptations. Moreover, the primary roles of pelage are to serve as insulation and protection from the elements during the course of evolution, while the morphology structure of the pelage that implied to the insulation and protection function differed significantly between body regions, thus, it causes the adaptability-differentiation characteristics on pelage. It is obviously exhibited gradient from the trunk to limbs.This paper reported the winter pelage characteristics of captive arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in Mohe, Heilongjiang Province located at the far north of China.10 pieces of winter fur of domestic adult arctic fox were sampled. From the mid-dorsum of each fur,5 pieces of skin,10 guard hairs,10 undercoat hairs forming the top layer, and 10 undercoat hairs in the base layer were sampled. Then 7 pieces fur were random sampled from the 10 pieces of winter fur. From the mid-dorsum of each fur,5-10 special upper hairs,70-110 guard hairs,25-40 sub-awn,20-45 vellus awn were sampled, and 10 bristles in dorsal claw were sampled. Moreover,1 pieces fur was random sampled from the 7 pieces of winter fur. From the cervix, tail, belly, buttock, lateral thigh, front upper hindleg, front lower hindleg, dorsal claw of this fur,5-10 special upper hairs,30-105 guard hairs,20-40 sub-awn,20-45 vellus awn and 10 undercoat hairs were sampled. Hair length was measured by using a steel ruler, hair density was measured on skin paraffin section by using a grid micrometer, the length of the different types of scales was measured by using a micrometer, and hair diameter, medulla diameter were measured by H6303i biology microscope and tImaPro Image Processing Software, and cross section area of the compound hair follicles (hair bundle) was measured by SigmaSan Pro5.0 Image Software.With the analysis of SPSS, we concluded that:(1) Pelage differentiation caused artic fox had more types of hair, including special upper hair, guard hair, sub-awn, vellus awn, undercoat hairs forming the top layer, and undercoat hairs in the base layer. The range of the hair length and the diameter was great and regular, as it made the hair interlaced perfectly then enhanced the pelage insulation value. (2) The pelage characteristics implied to the insulation and protection function differed significantly between body regions, thus, it causes the adaptability-differentiation characteristics on pelage. This trend was according with the heterothermy. (3) Hair density was increased by variable hair distribution patterns over the skin.