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Poddar-Sarkar, M., Raha, P., Bhar, R., Chakraborty, A. and Brahmachary, R.L. 2011. Ultrastructure and lipid chemistry of specialized epidermal structure of Indian porcupines and hedgehog. -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 92: 134-140.In the present study, we investigated the ultrastructural variations of specialized epidermal structure of Indian porcupines (Hystrix indica and Atherurus macrourus) and hedgehog (Hemiechinus collaris) as well as the variation in the fatty acid composition of total lipid fraction. Scanning electron microscope images reveal the usual scaly structure in surface view and network of channels in crosssection but with different orientation of partition walls. The lipid profile reveals the presence of free sterol, long-chain alcohol, free fatty acids, wax ester and sterol ester in all the three cases and trace amount of triglyceride, diglyceride and monoglyceride. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of fatty acid methyl ester of total lipid fraction indicates the presence of C 8 -C 22 fatty acids in Hystrix indica, C 8 -C 18 in Atherurus macrourus and C 8 -C 20 fatty acids in Hemiechinus collaris. It is interesting to note that the total lipid fraction of hedgehog shows no branched-chain, unsaturated and odd-carbon fatty acids. Odd-carbon fatty acid and branched-chain fatty acids detected in the adult H. indica but were absent in juvenile H. indica as well as in A. macrourus. With the exception of C 18:1 , the other unsaturated fatty acids were also absent in both juvenile H. indica and A. macrourus.

Raha, P., Ghosh, B., Bhar, R., Das, N. and Poddar-Sarkar, M. 2015. Ultrastructure of trichome of old world porcupine of Indian subcontinent. -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 96: 140-146.The present investigation is based on ultrastructural details of different types of quills of two species of old world porcupine (Hystrix indica and Hystrix brachyura) of Indian subcontinent using environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). In H. indica, four types of quills have been detectedbristlelike spines, stilettolike spines, spikes and mane. The quills of H. brachyura are categorized into four typesbroad, slender, hollow tail quill and quills of the anogenital region. The ESEM images of surface characteristic of different types of quills of both the species except the hollow tail quill showed usual scaly features without having any differences. The cross-sectional images of quills of H. indica and H. brachyura show a narrow cortex and a broad medullary region with a network of anastomosing channels. The cortical layer is comparatively thicker in mane hairs of H. indica and in slender quills of H. brachyura. With extensive exploration of the anatomical structures of the quills by ESEM from both the species of Hystrix, we could not find 'osmetrichia' in any forms of quill. In contrast, we hypothesized that the channels and network of medulla are serving the purpose for transportation of pheromonal signalling molecules in old world porcupine.

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