The Skin And Hair Of The Southern Elephant Seal, Mirounga Leonina: Pre-Natal And Early Post-Natal Development And Moulting
April 1967
in “
Australian Journal of Zoology
”
TLDR Southern elephant seals develop hair follicles and skin layers before birth, with moulting starting a week after birth and finishing in three weeks.
The study detailed the embryological development of hair follicles and foetal pelage in the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, identifying 10 stages. Follicle primordia appeared at about 8 weeks post-implantation, with definitive hair growth taking 14 weeks. Sebaceous glands developed rapidly after sweat glands, contributing to hair canal formation. The study noted the absence of certain epidermal layers and described the development of dermal structures. The first adult-type hair generation was observed in near-term foetuses and young pups, with post-natal moulting beginning 1 week after birth and completing in 3 weeks. The study found that foetal hairs were shed individually, while subsequent hair generations were united with the epidermis after the post-natal moult.