Skin histology and its role in heat dissipation in three pinniped species

Table 1 Regional distribution of sweat glands and arteriovenous anastomoses in pinnipeds

Skin region	Pacific harbor seal		Northern elephant seal		California sea lion
Skin region	Sweat glands	AVA	Sweat glands	AVA	Sweat glands	AVA
1. Head dorsal	+, not prominent	+	+, not prominent	-	+, not prominent	+
2. Head lateral	-	+	-	+	+	+
3. Cervical dorsal	+, not prominent	-	-	+	+	+
4. Cervical lateral	+, not prominent	-	-	-	+, prominent	+
5. Flipper fore	+, not prominent	+	+, not prominent	-	+, prominent	+
6. Flipper hind	+, not prominent	+	+, not prominent	+	+, prominent	+
7. Thoracic dorsal	-	-	-	-	+	-
8. Thoracic lateral	-	-	-	+	+	+
9. Thoracic ventral	+, not prominent	-	-	-	+	+
10. Abdomen dorsal	+, not prominent	-	-	-	+	+
11. Abdomen lateral	-	-	-	-	+	+
12. Abdomen ventral	-	+	-	-	+	+
13. Tail	+, not prominent	+	-	-	+, prominent	+
14. Gluteal dorsal	-	-	-	-	+	-

Sign ( + ) indicates presence. Sign (–) indicates absence. Sign (+), prominent) indicates a major presence, sign (+), not prominent) indicates scarce presence.

ISSN: 1751-0147