Performance Scanning Electron Microscopic Investigations and Elemental Analysis of Hair of Different Animal Species for Forensic Identification

This study focused on using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) for forensic identification of animal hair from four species groups: large ruminants, small ruminants, carnivores, and equines. It identified distinct hair scale patterns and morphometric measurements, such as cuticle thickness and cortex diameter, which varied among species. For instance, large ruminants, goats, and horses had imbricate scale patterns, while carnivores and donkeys had coronal patterns, and sheep had spinous patterns. Elemental analysis revealed specific elements like bromine in sheep and magnesium and phosphorus in buffalo, aiding in species differentiation. The study concluded that these techniques could enhance forensic investigations by providing detailed reference data for animal hair identification.