Subgroup differentiation in the Cervidae by hair cuticle analysisEine Differenzierung von Untergruppen innerhalb der Cervidae durch die Analyse des Haarkutikula-MustersDifférenciation de sous-groupe chez les Cervidae par analyse de la cuticule du poil

Based on computer-assisted methods (SEM, LM) and regression analysis, several structural parameters of the hair cuticle pattern of guard hairs of 10 cervid species were evaluated. Relevant relationships could be demonstrated for the ratio of scale width to height, hair index, and hair diameter. As a result, it was possible to differentiate three subfamilies within the Cervidae: Cervinae and Muntiacinae versus Odocoileinae (two clades). In this way, the comparative structural analysis of the hair cuticle pattern corroborated zoosystematical relationships that had been achieved using modern molecular genetical technique.