Ultrastructure of trichome of old world porcupine of Indian subcontinent

Abstract

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.

Microstructure of Quills in Sunda Porcupine Hystrix javanica (F. Cuvier, 1823)

“…of internal septae of the quills provides for their mechanical strength. The medullary layers slightly truncated the cortex of transitional quill in H. javanica as reported by Raha et al (2015) it occurs in the cortex of slender quill in H. brachyura.…”

“…Other studies shared that some bat species has scent hair (Scully et al 2000). However, the previous report shared that anogenital quill of H. brachyura from India subcontinent has no osmetricia (Raha et al 2015) (Figure 7B). The present study result revealed that anogenital quill of Sunda porcupine has no osmetrichia feature as well (Figure 7A).…”

“…Coarse bristlelike hairs cover the feet. The type and structure of quill and spine of H. brachyura have reported by Raha et al (2015), and the previous studies reported that the quills of H. javanica are categorized into four types; true quills, transition quills, rattle quills, and flat spine (Sheila 2011). However, in particular, it is no record of cuticle medulla structure of each quill.…”