Déroulement topographique et temporel des mues régulières de la souris à queue courte Mus spretus Lataste, 1883

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Abstract
The present paper analyzes the juvenile and intermediate molts in the Algerian mouse Mus spretus Lataste, 1883. Animals born and maintained under laboratory conditions were dyed black before the start of hair growth. As a general rule, both molt sequences are similar to that obtained by Espana et al. (1985). Nevertheless the molting process is not of sublateral type, as described by Kryltzov (1964). Molting does not start from the sides but from the ventral surface. Juvenile molting begins between the 31th and 42th day of age (.hivin.x = 38.3) and finished between the 45th and the 71th (.hivin.x = 52.1). Intermediate molts occurs between the 52th-79th (.hivin.x = 63.6) and the 68th-105th (.hivin.x = 81.4) day. All these variations are caused by wide individual but not litter differences. In both bases, first phases of molt occur faster than the last ones. Superposition between juvenile and intermediate molting has not been observed. Intermolt period lasts between 7 and 17 days (.hivin.x = 11.7). Although molting sequence is quite constant, there are alternative shapes. Whatever the sequence, Algerian mouse always undergoes two regular molts which give adult coat.