Microestrutura de pêlos-guarda de felídeos Brasileiros: considerações para a identificação de espécies

摘要: The analysis of cuticle and medulla hair microstructure is a simple inexpensive technique to identify mammal species for variety applications. We studied the guard-hairs 66 individuals eight felid occurring in Brazil (Leopardus colocolo, L.geoffroyi, L.pardalis, L.tigrinus, L.wiedii, Panthera onca, Puma concolor, yagouaroundi), through samples collected from anesthetized zoo animals. was analyzed described impressions preparations; blind test conducted evaluate accuracy identification. Although distinctive morphological characters could be identified each species, subtlety these overlap features among resulted relatively poor (75%). identification pairs or trios whose has similar morphologies (Group A: L. pardalis, tigrinus, wiedii; Group B: geoffroyi, P. yagouaroundi; C: onca) significantly improved (91%). Brazilian felids their challenging requires careful examination subtle features, should complemented by more accurate techniques and/or limited mostly applications where high not essential broader taxonomic scale being evaluated.