Abstract
Within the forensic identification the study of animal hair has remain limited to cross-species comparisons from the same family but there is also considerable changes in those animals like scale layer differentiation growth pattern, tensile strength, granulation and elemental profile of the animal hair. Here a rapid method is described for assessing a variety of morphological characteristics for identification of species that could be easily used by forensic investigators to identify the hairs from different species by just a fraction of single hair sample using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Hair samples from 90 animals of Felidae family, 30 from each Panthera leo persica (lion), Panthera paradus fusca (Leopard) and Panthera tigris tigris (Tiger) were examined for their cuticular scale layer difference pattern and measurements were taken using SEM annotations. Significant differences were observed in scale layer pattern differences/difference in overlapping of each scale in hair which can be used in identification of the species. The difference between each layer was observed as 6.72431 ± 0.4, 7.869655 ± 0.38 and 9.592897 ± 0.5 μm for Panthera Leo persica, Panthera tigris tigris and Panthera pradus fusca. Elemental analysis for all the three species from Felidae family have been evaluated using Energy Dispersive Spectrum coupled with SEM for analysis of Sodium, Potassium, Calcium and Sulfur. Significant results were obtained are can be further used to establish a concordance with the species identification.
Highlights
India is referred to have among richest biodiversity nations of the world [1] having mixture of Palaearctic, Oriental and Afro-tropical fauna [2]
The variation between intra-species were tested statistically and p
The area selected for Energy Dispersive Spectra (EDS) and elemental analysis for Panthera leo persica, Panthera pradus fusca and Panthera tigris tigris are shown in Figures 7-12 respectively
Summary
India is referred to have among richest biodiversity nations of the world [1] having mixture of Palaearctic, Oriental and Afro-tropical fauna [2]. Illegal trade of the wildlife products are key risk to conservation and responsible for regional obliteration to these species. According to earlier findings wildlife products are third in the row of illegal trade after narcotics and firearms [1,4]. Products of illegal wildlife trade includes meat, antler, horns, nails, bones, horns, musk, ivory, biles, pods, skin fur, claws, teeth and wool etc which are traded in various forms like processed leather, brushes, frames, ornaments, showpieces and in traditional medicines (Chinese) (TCM) [5]. The use of hair in studying taxonomy, environmental factor and work culture has been explored by various scientists. Researches has revealed about the hair scale pattern and medullary index using light microscopy as well as electron microscopy [6]
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