Integument in Antarctic seals: A comparative study and its relation to extreme environments

Due to the semi‐aquatic lifestyle of seals and the extreme climates they inhabit, their integumentary system has aroused the curiosity of several authors for more than a century. The aim of this contribution was to perform an exhaustive histological description of the integument Antarctic seals thro...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta zoologica (Stockholm) 2018-07, Vol.99 (3), p.281-295
Main Authors: Krmpotic, Cecilia Mariana, Loza, Cleopatra Mara, Negrete, Javier, Scarano, Alejo Carlos, Carlini, Alfredo Armando, Guerrero, Alicia, Barbeito, Claudio Gustavo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipose tissue
Aquatic mammals
Climate
Comparative analysis
Comparative studies
Dermis
Elasticity
Epidermis
Extreme environments
Fibers
Frameworks
histology
Hydrurga leptonyx
Integument
Integumentary system
Leptonychotes weddellii
Melanin
Mirounga leonina
Pinnipedia
Polar environments
Seals
Skin
Solar radiation
thermoregulation
Tissue
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Due to the semi‐aquatic lifestyle of seals and the extreme climates they inhabit, their integumentary system has aroused the curiosity of several authors for more than a century. The aim of this contribution was to perform an exhaustive histological description of the integument Antarctic seals through different methodological approaches in a comparative framework. The species considered include the ice‐obligate—Weddell (Leptonychotes weddellii) and leopard (Hydrurga leptonyx) seal—and the ice‐tolerant, and southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). In addition, we attempted to link the histological features to their different lifestyles. All three species showed features related to their amphibious lifestyle (i.e., parakeratotic epidermis with abundant melanin granules, dermis with numerous arteriovenous anastomoses and a great amount of elastic fibres). In aquatic mammals, parakeratosis would decrease cellular replacement, the great amount of melanin is related to the high exposure to solar radiation, the presence of arteriovenous anastomoses is related to thermoregulatory mechanisms, and the presence of elastic fibres is due to variations of thickness in the adipose tissue that requires high elasticity of the dermis.
ISSN:0001-7272
1463-6395
DOI:10.1111/azo.12212