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    07 July 2008, Volume 28 Issue 4
    The opening up and utilization of a new movement corridor by Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Shangyong Nature Reserve,Yunnan
    LIN Liu,ZHU Wenqing,ZHANG Longtian,FENG Limin,WANG Lifan,TAO Qing,ZHANG Li
    2008, 28(4):  325-332. 
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    The distribution of Asian elephants (Elphas maximus) in Shangyong Nature Reserve and its surroundings was
    studied by site visits,elephant trace surveys and 3S techniques (GIS,GPS,RS ).from September 2004 to December
    2006.Activity traces of elephants were tracked and located by GPS, and their distribution range was analyzed from these GPS points, the data from field surveys and satellite images. The results indicated that the distribution range of elephants covered an area of 395 km2 , including Shangyong Nature Reserve, part of the collective forest of Shangzhongliang, Manfen, Hetu and Nanping village which is located to the west of Shangyong Nature Reserve, and it had a long-narrow corridor spreading from Hetu, Nanping, through Tianfang, Longkuang and Kafeierdui, then reaches its destination in Nam Ha Nature Reserve in Laos. The “S”shaped corridor was wider on the two ends and narrower in the middle with a width of 0. 66 km. Meanwhile, natural forest covered only 37. 6% area of the corridor and was not continuous.From August 2002 to December 2006, six elephant trans-boundary movements through this corridor were recorded. It was believed that habitat loss and fragmentation,crop raiding behavior of elephants, human disturbance and illegal poaching were factors leading elephants to spread their range area and finally open up this new movement corridor. However,the long-narrow “S” shaped structure and continuous reduction of forest could not only impact utilization of the corridor by elephants, but also intensify the human-elephant conflicts in the region. Therefore,measures such as building ecological corridors,strengthening antipoaching enforcement and managing the current habitat should be taken to restore habitat and to mitigate human-elephant conflicts.


    Preliminary monitoring of Amur tiger population in Jilin Hunchun National Nature Reserve
    LI Bing,ZHANG Endi,ZHANG Zhenhua,LIU Yu
    2008, 28(4):  333-341. 
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    The Hunchun Nature Reserve,located near the boundaries of China with Russia and DPR Korea,is the only
    national level reserve in China containing tigers (Panthera tigris) and leopards (P. pardus). Since its establishment in December 2001, tiger monitoring has been carried out in and around the reserve. Because tigers can easily cross boundaries over the course of a year,winter snow tracking alone is insufficient as the sole method ortigermonitoring. Thus, a passivetiger monitoring method was adopted to augment the existing winter survey. Passive monitoring relies primarily on information on tiger predation reported by local villagers and informants in 12 villages. We summarize tiger monitoring efforts during 2001 - 2006, analyze tiger occurrence frequency,number,and sex/ age ratios suggested by monitoring data,and make conservation suggestions. During winters 2003 - 2005, 50 routes of 5 -10 km length were monitored for tiger sign. As of the end of 2006,a total of 93 tiger occurrences had been recorded,of which one was a cub. Based on track records during 2002 -2006,we encountered tigers 7, 16, 9, 7, and 7 times respectively,and estimate the presence of 3, 10, 5, 4, and 5 individuals in those years. Based on winter tracking during 2003 - 2005, we estimated 7 male tigers in the area, one of which was a sub-adult. Our results suggest that males outnumbered females,and speculate that this resulted from male tigers tending to disperse and hunt livestock. However,our results were affected by monitoring conditions,methodological limitations,and variable intensity of effort;. over half of all data lacked reliable footprint records. Thus our results are only capable of providing an incomplete reflection of tiger status in this area. We suggest enhancing transboudary conservation efforts by building corridors,considering translocations,conducting in-depth tiger and ungulate monitoring and research,
    building a system to help local communities and armies become better involved in conservation,and helping local communities change their methods of livestock grazing and seek alternative livelihoods.
    Spring habitat selection of Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) around Dalai Lake, Inner-Mongolia
    LUO Zhenhua,LIU Bingwan,LIU Songtao
    2008, 28(4):  342-352. 
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    The Mongolian gazelle (Procapra gutturosa) is the most abundant ungulate on the Asia-European steppe. During
    May and June of 2005 and 2006 we studied habitat selection of Mongolian gazelles on 20 randomly set transects around Dalai Lake, Inner Mongolia. We characterized 20 ecological factors that we hypothesized may determine habitat selection of Mongolian gazelles, with the aim of identifying key features influencing their habitat use. We used an information theoretic approach and logistic regression to build habitat selection models,and used a resource selection index and a resource selection function method to assess preference of primary habitat factors. The most parsimonious auto-logistic model was a good predictor of Mongolian gazelle habitat selection. Livestock disturbance was an important covariate predicting gazelle presence (β= 10. 898). Position on slope,distance from water, slope, shelter, distance from fences,and vegetation type were important predictors of habitat use by Mongolian gazelles (β > 1. 000). Distance to nearest road,aboveground vegetation biomass, plant height,vegetation cover and species richness were secondary factors which lacked significant predictive value on habitat use (β < 1.000). Gazelles preferred habitats < 2 000 m and > 4 000 m from livestock distance, lower and middle portions of slopes as well as flat areas,distance from water sources of 4 000 - 8 000 m,slopes of < 10°, < 3 000 m shelter condition (viewable range),1 000 -2 000 m from fences,and vegetation types characterized by Stipa spp. and forbs. Habitat selection models and corresponding tables of important resources can be used to guide and evaluate
    future conservation activities of Mongolian gazelle. The principal strategy for its conservation in spring is to reduce intensity of grazing by domestic livestock. Controlling the livestock population in the trans-boundary area, and scientific grassland and grazing management in areas further from international borders are important for conservation of Mongolian gazelle. Furthermore, artificial supply of food and water, grassland protection, grass cutting rationalization and reasonable fence construction and management are effective policies for conservation of this species.
    Social structure of goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa) in Kalamaili Mountain Nature Reserve,Xinjiang
    QIAO Jianfang,YANG Weikang,XU Wenxuan,LIU Wei
    2008, 28(4):  353-357. 
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    We studied the social structure of goitered gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa) in Kalamaili Mountain Nature Reserve,
    northern Xinjiang,China,from November 2005 to May 2007. We observed 564 gazelle groups (3186 individuals),
    and classified these into 6 types: female, male, sub-adults, solitary animals, mixed, and unidentified groups. In spring, male groups were the most frequent type observed, accounting for 45.7% . In summer and autumn,female groups thecommon type observed,accounting for 52.9% and 70.4% . In winter,mixed groups were most commonly observed,accounting for 60% . The frequency with which we observed social groups varied by season (x2 = 68. 45,P < 0.01). Group sizes varied from 1 to 95 individuals. Groups with 1 -5 individuals,6 - 10 individuals,11 - 20 dividuals and > 20 individuals accounted for 65.78% , 23.1%, 9.2% , 2.3% of observations. The most frequenly observed group size was 3 individuals group (20.2% ). Mean group size was 4.45 ± 4.07 in spring, 4.94 ± 4.20 in summer,6.66 ±10.12 in autumn, and 6.0 ± 5.66 in winter. Group size in spring was autumn and winter.
    Food selection by plateau pikas in different habitats during plant growing season
    LIU Wei,ZHANG Yu,WANG Xi,ZHAO Jianzhong,XU Qingmin,ZHOU Li
    2008, 28(4):  358-366. 
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    We compared diets of pikas (Ochotona curzoniae) among meadows dominated by Kobresia humilis, Elymus nutans,
    and forbs, using micro-histological analysis of stomach contents. Our objective was to explain the effects of changing habitats on pikas,and to examine adaptability and living strategy for pikas. In the Kobersia humilis meadow,main food items were Elymus nutans, Poa spp. , Oxytropis glabra and Oxytropis kansuensis. In the Elymus nutans meadow, main food items were Elymus nutans, Oxytropis glabra, O. kansuensis, K. humilis and Scirpus distigmaticus. In the forb meadow, main food items were E. nutans, O. glabra,O. kansuensis, Poa spp. , Leontopodium pusillum, Anaphalis lactea, Lancea tibetica and Lonicera rupicola. Species selected by pikas differed significantly among habitats. Those plants, which were utilized seldom by pikas in the others meadows, were the main food items since the availability of preference food items decline. Pikas selected 27 plant species all told during plant growing season,but only E. nutans, O. kansuensis and O. glabra were preferred in all three habitats. Pikas fed on a total of 16 plant species the E. nutans meadow, 22 in the K. humilis meadow, and 24 in the forb meadow, with the number species consumed increasing through the spring/ summer time period. The most frequently observed food item also different by habitat: E. nutans of 40. 49% in the E. nutans meadow, O. kansuensis of 23. 65% in the K. humilis meadow, and L.tibetica of 14. 56% in the forb meadow,indicating a generalized diet. The similarity coefficient indicated that pika diets in E. nutans and K. humilis meadows were similar, but both were significantly different from diets in the forb meadow. Pikas appear capable of varying the diets with habitats,suggesting that they can adapt to changing habitat conditions.
    Subspecies differentiation for Blanford’s fruit bat,Sphaerias blanfordi (Pteropodidae,Chiroptera) in southern Asia
    FENG Qing,JIANG Xuelong,WANG Yingxiang
    2008, 28(4):  367-374. 
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    Blanford’s fruit bat,Sphaerias blanfordi (Thomas,1891) is endemic to Himalaya-Indochina areas,southern Asia, very unwanted and rarely reported. There was no description of male external diagnostics and it was considered to be
    monotypic until 1980. However,Cai and Zhang (1980) described a new subspecies,Sphaerias blanfordimotuoensis,
    based on two male specimens from Mêdog,southeastern Tibet. It differs from the nominate subspecies S.
    b. blanfordi
    Thomas, in having a pelage of uniformly blue-brown,two grayish-yellow rounded patches on the undersurface of the neck, no odontoid papillae on the inner side of the lips,and only the foreside lower margin of ear is white. However, after examining 25 specimens of Blanford’s fruit bat collected from Mt. Gaoligong, northwestern Yunnan of China,we found that:
    1. The grayish-yellow patches on the undersurface of the neck reflect external sexual dimorphism;all male have two
    yellow round patches on the undersurface of the neck,whereas they are absent in females.
    2. The white color on the foreside lower margin of ear is aberrant coloration. Among the specimens examined,two are white in the middle one third, with black above and below, in nine specimens the basal half is white and the upper half black;the total margin of the ear is white in eleven specimens; three specimens are white on one side,and black on other side.
    3. Small,sparse papillae on the inner side of the lips also is aberrant. Among the specimens,nine present small
    sparse papillae on the inner side of the lips,while this is absent in seventeen specimens.
    4. As for color of the pelage,the description of the subspecies of Sphaerias blanfordi motuoensis being uniformly bluebrown differs from that of S. b. blanfordi described by Feng et al. (1986). However,according to several authors,
    the specimens of S. b. blanfordi from India, Nepal, Myanmar,Thailand and Vietnam are dull grayish brown on the
    dorsal and ventral surfaces (Andersen,1912; Tate,1947; Lekagul and McNerely,1977; Bates and Harrison,
    1997;Burissenko and Kruskop,2003). After examining the pelage colour of the specimens in Yunnan and Tibet we consider them similar to the pelage colour of S. b. blanfordi reported by the afore-mentioned authors.
    So,Sphaerias blanfordi motuoensis Cai and Zhang,1980 is an invalid subspecies,while, the specimens recorded from
    Mt. Tay Con Linh Ⅱ (northern Vietnam)by Lunde et al. (2003) have longer forearms [57 ± 1.8 (52 -61)mm. ] (n= 43), and larger skull, [CBL 7.6 ± 0.80 (26. 1- 28. 8)mm. ] (n = 16), C1 - C1 [6.6 ± 0. 3 (6.2 - 7.2)mm. ] (n = 16). It might be a new subspecies.
    Distribution pattern and zoogeographical division of mammals on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau
    HUANG Wei,XIA Lin,YANG Qisen,FENG Zuojian
    2008, 28(4):  375-394. 
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    The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is located in southwestern China. 250 species of mammals belonging to 10 orders and
    30 families have been recorded by the authors on the plateau. On the basis of comprehensive physical factors,the whole plateau was divided into 24 basic units identified as Operational Taxonomic Units (OTU) for clustering. The information on mammals in each was used to compute composition similarity for the 24 OTU using Ward’s methods. Our study indicated that Palaearctic species were mainly distributed in Qiangtang and the northern plateau while the Oriental species were mainly distributed in southern Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains. The Palaearctic species in Qiangtang and the northern plateau comprised 88.6% of those on the whole plateau while the Oriental species in southern Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains comprised 97.7% . Based on clustering analysis and the landform on the plateau etc. , the zoogeographic distributions can be classified into fourth-level divisions. First,the zoogeographic distribution of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau can be divided into two first-level divisions with the linkage distance between 0.6219 and 1.0738. Second,the zoogeographic distribution of the whole plateau can be divided into four second-level divisions with the linkage distances between 0.5034 and 0.6219.
    Third, the zoogeographic distribution of the whole plateau can be divided into seven third-level divisions with the linkage distances between 0.2236 and 0.2684. Fourth,the zoogeographic distribution of the whole plateau can be divided into sixteen fourth-level divisions with the linkage distances between 0.0930 and 0.1245. Finally,according to the mammalian distribution and the evolution of the plateau,we discussed how the distribution pattern of the mammals in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau formed. It is suggested that the formation of the distribution pattern is closely related to the uplift of the plateau.
    Geographical differentiation in skull morphology of isolated Apodemus chevrieri populations in western Sichuan Mountains
    ZHANG Mingchun,ZHANG Zejun,MU Huaqiang,HUANG Xiaofu,HU Jinchu
    2008, 28(4):  395-401. 
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    In this research,we comprehensively compared skulls of Apodemus chevrieri populations in the western Sichuan
    Mountains, including the Minshan, Qionglai, Xiangling and Liangshan Mountains, which are isolated from each other by broad rivers or extensive human activities. One-way ANOVA and subsequent multiple comparisons indicated that one or more variables were significantly different among these isolated populations For all samples,the discriminant function analysis had 69.7% correct ratio. Significant differences in skull morphology in these populations implied that significant geographical differentiation had occurred among them. In addition,geographical distance was significantly positively correlated with difference in discriminant scores of skulls. We assumed that besides geographical distance,the difference in skulls among different populations was also related to selective pressures from their local environmental conditions. Our results indicated that future research should pay more attention to potential geographical differentiation in morphological traits when defining
    species within the Apodemus genus.
    Does social visual stimuli from males affect the pregnant female golden hamsters’reproductive characteristics?
    LEI Weipan,RAO Xiaoping,LIU Dingzhen
    2008, 28(4):  402-408. 
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    A wealthy of scientific data supports the substantial role played by social odor in mediation of rodents’social life; however, little efforts has been made to examine whether visual signals have similar roles in rodents’social life This experiment was designed to test if exclusively visual signals from a strange male impose stress on a pregnant female and impact her reproductive characteristics. In this experiment,one male golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) caged in an airproof and transparent glass box was put into a pregnant female’s cage till the female gave birth. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the body weight changes between those two groups of females during the two periods: mating to parturition and parturition to weaning. Nor did we find any significant differences in the pups’body weight gaining, litter size, visual development, survival rates and sex ratios.However, we did find significant differences in reproductive success between those two groups of females:one third of those exposed to male stranger either aborted or died birthing; control had normal birth pattern. The hypothesis of visual signals from a strange male hamster may impose stress on pregnant female hamster was partially supported by our current data. Our results indicate that while visual signals from strange male conspecifics might impact the pregnant females’reproductive success,and there is no extended impact on the
    female’s body weight gain and offspring physiological development. This information should help to inform animal management and treatment procedures in handling lab animals such as rat and mouse in addition to golden hamster.
    Effects of photoperiod and temperature on thermogenesis in Eothenomys miletus
    LIU Chunyan,XU Weijiang,CAI Jinhong,LIAN Xiao,WANG Zhengkun
    2008, 28(4):  409-416. 
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    Four experiments were designed to investigate the influence of photoperiod and ambient temperature on body
    weight, body temperature,resting oxygen consumption (RMR),nonshivering thermogenesis (NSTmax)and cellular biochemistry in Eothenomys miletus. Eothenomys miletus were acclimated to the following conditions for 28 days:1 ) long days and warm (30-LP)(30 ± 1℃ ,18L∶ 6D), 2) long days and cold (5-LP) (5 ± 1℃ ,18L∶ 6D), 3) short days and
    warm (30-SP)(30 ± 1℃,6L∶ 18D), 4) short days and cold (5-SP)(5 ± 1℃ ,6L∶ 18D). The results showed that
    temperature was the more important environmental factor for variations of thermogenesis in Eothenomys miletus. In both photoperiods, body weight,body temperature, RMR and NSTmax were significantly modified by ambient temperatures. Exposure to ambient temperatures at 5 ±1℃ was associated with a decrease in body weight,body temperature and an increase in RMR and NSTmax,Heat exposure caused an increase in body temperature and an decrease in RMR and NSTmax. The low temperature could induce an increase in Liver/BAT protein contents, mitochondrial state-3 and state-4 respiration,α-glycerophosphate oxidase of Liver/ BAT mitochondria, and cytochrome C oxidase activity of Liver / BAT mitochondria. A warm ambient temperature induced opposite phenomena. But there were no significant differences between long days and short days. Thermoregulatory responses to changes in ambient temperature were not significantly altered by day length. It seemed
    that Eothenomys miletus were more sensitive to temperature.
    Development of radio-telemetry halter for measuring nutritional behavior and its preliminary application on Eld’s deer
    Takuji Hirayama,ZHANG Licun,HE Kang,ZHENG Youfeng,LI Yuchun
    2008, 28(4):  417-421. 
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    Measurement of eating, ruminating and reposing behaviors for ruminants is a necessary to study ecological nutrition and mechanism of resource utilization; however, no radio transmitter is available for such purpose at present. Based on jaw movements of ruminants when eating, ruminating and reposing, the authors designed a radio-telemetry halter for measuring these behaviors and applied it to two female adult Eld’s deer (Cervus eldii hainanus) at Banxi Nature Reserve in July 2005. This radio-telemetry halter consist of two main parts, a jaw movement sensor (switch) and a circuit sending radio signals including eating behaviors and interval signals on the same radio frequency used for locating animal. Signals of jaw movement are recorded as analog data, and transfermed to digital signals for identifying eating, ruminating, and reposing behavior. The measured time ratios for the halter-equipped Eld’s deer outside the enclosure were 12% eating,36% ruminating, and 52% reposing, and for the deer inside the enclosure 3%,38% and 59%,respectively,indicating there existed an adaptive period for halter-equipped deer. The authors intend to place GPS senors into the telemetry for displaying animal behavior and location on GIS layers on computer, and to establish a real-time system for recording and analyzing behavior and location of ruminant in the future.

    Determination of creatinine and purine derivatives from snow-urine of oose and roe deer by HPLC
    ZHANG Weiqi,JIANG Guangshun,ZHANG Minghai,MA Jianzhang,DONG Huishu
    2008, 28(4):  422-429. 
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    Currently the content detection of purine derivatives in urine of ruminant was used broadly to reflect their nutritional conditions indirectly world wide. In this paper a optimized High Performance Liquid Chromatography was performed to determine the content of creatinine and purine derivatives in snow-urine of moose (Alces alces) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). The results showed that there were good linearities from 0.0010mg /ml to 0.2000mg/ ml (R2 = 0.9999) for allantoin, uric acid, hypoxanthine, xanthine and creatinine; the recovery ratio of the standards were 96% - 105%. Allantoin could not be detected in all the samples of moose and almost 1 /3 roe deer, which were collected from Shengshan and Zhanhe forest farms of Heilongjiang Province in the winter of 2006 and 2007. Moreover, in these samples, hypoxanthine and xanthine took up 20.7% -<

    Preliminary studies on causes of death of Alpine musk

    KANG Fagong,LIU Zhixiao,ZHANG Xueyan,WANG Chenghua,DENG Kaidong
    2008, 28(4):  430-433. 
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    We analyzed 254 deaths caused by diseases in captive Alpine musk deer (Moschus chrysogaster) from 1998 to 2005 at the Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm,Gansu. Among the eight categories of diseases,respiratory system diseases had the highest incidence rate of 26.8%, followed by motor system diseases (16.5% ), digestive and nutritive diseases (14.6% ), unidentified diseases (14. 2%), cardiovascular system diseases (13% ), urinary system diseases (9.8% ), nervous system diseases (3.5% ),and reproductive system diseases (1.6% ). The percentages of dead males were higher than those of the females for deaths caused by digestive system and nutritive diseases (♂62.2%), cardiovascular system diseases (60.6% ), nervous system diseases (66.7% ),unidentified diseases (61.1% ), and particularly the urinary system diseases (up to 84% ), and the male to female ratio of deaths caused by all the diseases was (♂ ♀)1 0.76, showing a male-skewed mortality. The mortality of newborn and fawns was relatively high, and the percentage of deaths in one and two- year-old deer was 51.6% of the total, but those decreased with deer age. The relationship between the economic benefit in the farming of musk deer and the prevention of diseases were discussed Finally,we offered a strategy to control the incidence of diseases by regarding the musk deer as a solitary species.

    A molecular genetic approach for species identification of several forensic animal sample
    YE Wangwei,ZHU Tong,HU Chaochao,ZHANG Chenling,WAN Xia,ZHOU Lizhi,CHANG Qing,ZHANG Baowei
    2008, 28(4):  434-439. 
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    For a long time, illegal poaching was a big challenge in wildlife conservation. In some cases, in which unambiguous morphological evidence was absent, it was difficult to identify the correct species, so the judicial process was impeded. In the present study, identification of species is possible by DNA sequencing of the material, especially a partial DNA sequence of the cytochrome b gene. Four cooked muscle samples that were suspected as coming from wildlife were collected from four different cities. DNA was extracted from the muscle samples, then a fragment of cytochrome b was amplified with the universal primers L14724 and H15149. PCR products were purified and sequenced,and four sequences of 393 to 405 bp were determined. They shared the same haplotype. After blasting, sequences were compared with the sequences of eight related species registered in GenBank, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed by the neighbor-joining method. The results of genetic distance (K2P) analysis showed that the genetic distance between the unknown species and different species ranged from 0.00 (unknown samples vs Muntiacus reesesi)to 0.106 (vs Cervus nippon). At the same time, these unknown samples of animal remains were identified by phylogenetic analysis with neighbor-joining tree, which shows that the samples and Muntiacus reeversi were clustered together in the system. On the basis of the case, some discussion was carried out on the key steps in the molecular genetic approach such as the choice of molecular markers and operational technique for molecular genetic diagnostic approach, and additionally, some conservation suggestions are put forward.

    The morphological structure of winter upper-hair from the mid-back and claw of Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) from Tonghe Forest Farm

    ZHANG Wei,SUN Changhong,MA Yue,HUA Yan
    2008, 28(4):  440-444. 
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    Thirty Siberian weasels (Mustela Sibirica) (15 males and 15 females) were sampled from Longkou Forest Farm of Tonghe in Xiaoxing’an Mountains in winter. For each individual, 5 guard hairs from the mid-back and 5 upper-hairs from the hind-claw were collected and subjected to morphological examination of scale pattern using electron scanning microscopy. All the hairs were measured for indices including hair length, medulla length, hair follicle length, hair diameter, medulla diameter, and hair root diameter using biological microscope system H6303i,and then medulla length index (ratio of medulla length to hair length) and medulla index (ratio of medulla diameter to hair diameter)were calculated. The statistical results showed that the length of guard hairs from the mid-back was 33.50 ± 0.52 mm in males and 28.85 ±0.28 mm in females, the average of medulla length index was 95.36% in males and 95.16% in females, and the average of medulla index was 79.41% in male and 80.68% in females. All these indices were significantly larger than those of upper-hairs from hind-claw (P< 0.05). Such morphological structure characters of guard hairs from mid-back favor heat insulation properties and those of upper-hair from hind-claw enhance the function of protection. The for the upper-hair from the hind-claw, the hair follicle length was 0.91 ± 0.05 mm in male and 0.79 ±0.10 mm in female, hair root diameter was 86.0 ±3.7μm in male and 71.9 ± 3.1μm in female, the ratio of the length with irregular-wave scales and regular imbricate scales to the hair length is 100% in both male and female. All these indices were significantly larger than those of guard hairs from the mid-back (P < 0.05) and such morphological structure characters enhance the function of protection further. The functional differentiation between guard hairs from mid-back and upper-hairs from hind-claw make the weasels more adaptable to a cold environment with complex vegetation form.