Dear board readers,

I am a veterinary pathologist who specializes in the hair of mammals. I am in the process of writing a comparative paper on the morphology of the follicles in quilled mammals.
Two questions:
1) Is there a reference (English or French, please) that describes the microscopic morphology of the tenrec hair? Is it like hedge hogs in being like a ball and socket joint and do the quills shed commonly?
2) If anyone out there has a tenrec that dies of natural causes, I would really like to get a section of their skin fixed in formalin. The Comparative Dermatology Laboratory at Texas A&M will pay for shipment. Just contact me through the above email.

To date I have samples from Porcupines (North American), African hedgehogs and Echdinas (Southern). I find them fascinating because quilled mammals can hold their quills in place for long periods of time. This is totally different than the standard concept for hair growth. I thank you in advance for any help you might give me.
Thanks!
Bob Dunstan, DVM, MS
Professor and Director
Comparative Dermatology Laboratory
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4467