Ondatra zibethicus
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English: Muskrat
German: Bisamratte
French: Rat musqu‚
Spanish: Rata almizclera
Distribution areas
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The muskrat originated in North America
but today is found in Central and North
Europe and in the whole northern Asia.
Description of the fur
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The skins are from 50 to 60 cm long. The The surface structure
undercoat is fine and grey-blue in colour. of the skin, 300x
The upper part of the coat is red-brown
with lustrous guard hair tips. The thickness of the coat is in the range of
20 to 30 mm. The belly area is light in colour. The coat is soft; the hairs
are moderately curled, only the guard hairs are straight.
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Ondatra zibethicus
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English: Muskrat
German: Bisamratte
French: Rat musqu‚
Spanish: Rata almizclera
Structure of the hair
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The microscopic structure of the skin
surface is furrowed. The individual hair
follicles are wide with straight edges. The
average follicle contains a cluster of ten
or more fibres.
The fine fur fibres are straight, with a A group of the fine hairs,
diameter of 8 to 15 µm. The cross-sectional 400x
outline is usually elliptical and the
cuticular scales are of the cornet-like type. The scale surface is smooth and
the margins are straight. The medullary column is narrow, unbroken and
central symmetrical-shaped. The overall structure of the medulla is of the
uniserial ladder type, with an amorphous detailed structure to the infilling
substance.
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Ondatra zibethicus
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English: Muskrat
German: Bisamratte
French: Rat musqu‚
Spanish: Rata almizclera
The intermediate fibres are elliptical
in cross-sectional outline and have a
diameter of 25 to 55 µm. The cuticular
scales are even, tile-like with a smooth
scale surface and straight margins. The
medullary column is narrow, unbroken and
central symmetrical shaped. The overall
medullary structure is of the tubular type
with an amorphous infilling substance. The cuticular structure
of an intermediate hair, 600x
The guard hairs are elliptical in cross
-section and have a diameter in the range of 50 to 120 µm. The cuticular
scales are crenated, tile-like with a smooth surface and rippled scale
margins. The medullary column is narrow, unbroken and central symmetrical
-shaped in the cross-section. The medullary structure is of the lumpy type
with an amorphous infilling material.
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Ondatra zibethicus
------------------
English: Muskrat
German: Bisamratte
French: Rat musqu‚
Spanish: Rata almizclera
The cuticular structure
of a guard hair, 600x
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Ondatra zibethicus
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English: Muskrat
German: Bisamratte
French: Rat musqu‚
Spanish: Rata almizclera
Longitudinal section
of a guard hair, 600x
Numerical code for muskrat skin structure
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Surface of the skin: 3-2-3
Fine fur fibres: 2-5-1-1-3-1-1-1-8-8.15-15.22
Intermediate fibres: 2-2-1-1-3-1-1-12-8-25.55-20.25
Guard hairs: 2-4-1-2-3-1-1-13-8-50.121-20.35
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