The mammalian coat - a source of phylogenetically valuable characters?

Annotation I have tried to describe various components of a mammalian coat and it´s relation to the function and phylogeny of this structure. Finally I have described some coat structures which could be used as a diagnostic features. I have also tried to chose some coat markings and structures in cervids, which I would like to use in my next work about relation of fur features to the phylogeny of the family Cervidae. This work is based on a literal rewiew. My conclusions from these published sources are also discussed

Could fur characters be a source of phylogenetic information?

This work analysed phylogenetic utility of several characters associated with basic coloration, moulting and whorls in Cervidae via comparison of these traits with relatively robust phylogeny of this group based on several morphological, ethological and molecular data. I was able to detect probable evolutionary history of some selected traits, their ancestral state and synapomorphies of recognized clades