The Morphological Basis of Vicuña Wool: Skin and Gland Structure in Vicugna Vicugna (Molina 1782)
March 2016
in “
Small ruminant research
”
TLDR Vicuña wool's quality is due to a high density of fine secondary hair follicles, and their skin glands may be used for communication.
The study examined the histological structure of vicuña skin and hair follicles, revealing significantly higher densities of secondary follicles in the fleece (42:1) compared to the belly and legs (12:1). The fleece had smaller follicle and hair diameters, contributing to its fine fiber quality. Unique structures were identified in the metatarsal glands, which differed from previous descriptions. This was the first histological study of vicuña skin and cutaneous glands using both light and electron microscopy, providing insights into the morphological basis of vicuña wool and its potential role in chemical communication.
