Have you ever wondered what animal hair is for? This curious question does not have a single answer, since the presence of hair in the Animal Kingdom depends on many factors, such as environmental conditions and the evolution of animals. Sometimes the animals have more hair on the neck and head, other times instead on the tail and even on the extremities. But what does the greater or lesser amount of hair that animals have depend on?
In this interesting article on our site you will find answers to these and many other questions about animals with fur-characteristics and examples.
Functions of hair in animals
The function of hair in animals has been studied by diverse and numerous scientists specialized in animal physiology, trying to find new results that allow us to know exactly what the real functions of the presence of hair are in the Animal Kingdom.
Among the main results of these studies, it is worth noting that hair protects animals against adverse environmental conditions in different climates. It acts as a thermal insulator especially in cold climates. In this way, when hair is abundant in animals, it gives them a high insulation effect. Whereas when the presence of hair in the epidermis is more sparsely distributed, the hair contributes to the heat release and self-regulation of body temperature of animals.
In addition, in some animals, the type and quantity of hair can vary according to the seasons of the year, allowing these animals to have a better adaptation to the environment that surrounds them.
The presence of hair helps animals to be protected against infections and diseases caused by bacteria and other microorganisms found in wounds or glands.
Fur is also used by animals to protect their skins against burns caused by abrasion and excess ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming from the sun.
In some animals, hair is even used to collect information from the environment and respond to it, helping the sense of touch when locating prey and even interacting with other animals (favoring recognition between individuals of the same species but also between different species). This is the case of the type of hair called " vibrisa or mustache", which is usually located on the snout or near the nostrils, serving animals that They present them even to orient themselves in situations of total darkness. In addition, thanks to its coloration, the hair helps animals to remain encrypted with the environment that surrounds them and even warn of situations of danger and alert depending on the disposition of said hairs.
What animals have fur?
We have already learned about the different and curious functions that hair has in animals, but can we attribute the presence of hair and its functions to all animals? The answer is no, since mammals are the only animals in which we can find this anatomical feature.
No other animal group, except mammals, has hair in greater or lesser amounts during any of its life stages. Thus, we can affirm that it is an exclusive characteristic that mammals have maintained throughout their evolution.
Thus, depending on the environment in which mammals later grow and develop as adults, some species tend to have their hair greatly reduced, as it is not useful for survival because environmental conditions do not require the presence of hair. This is the case, for example, of those mammals that live in aquatic environments, either all of their lives (such as cetaceans) or partially (such as hippopotamuses, otters and beavers).
Examples of animals with fur
In this section we will see in more detail many of the animals that have hair, grouped according to the genus or taxonomic family to which they belong:
Hominids
The hair and body hair that we humans have is due to the biological evolution of our closest ancestors in the animal kingdom: the chimpanzees. These, like gorillas and orangutans, have dense fur on almost their entire body.
Canids
Dogs, wolves, coyotes and foxes are characterized by dense fur of different colors that allow them to blend in with the environment in which they live and thus attack their prey more ste althily.
Felines
The majestic lions, tigers, leopards, pumas, jaguars, cheetahs, lynxes and cats (both domestic and wild), have some of the most sophisticated fur in the animal kingdom, with all kinds of density and color.
Ursids
The different species of those commonly known as bears have coats that allow them to survive in regions of the planet with cold climates, such as the white polar bear and the Iberian brown bear. But also from tropical climates such as the curious black and white fur of the panda bear and the brown and cinnamon of the spectacled bear.
Cervids
The short but dense fur of the elk, reindeer, deer and fallow deer that belong to this large family of herbivores, allows them to survive the cold winters of their natural habitats, while they are able to acclimatize to the warm springs and hot summers of the regions to which they migrate in search of food.
Camelids
The type of hair that camels and dromedaries have allows them to adapt without problems to sudden changes in temperature between day and night in the deserts they inhabit. While the dense wool of alpacas, llamas and guanacos is used to make clothes and accessories.
Cattle
The dense layers of wool from the sheep that are sheared to produce all kinds of fabrics contrast with the heavy fur that gigantic bison and muskox carry throughout their lives.
Suidos
The short but rough hair of domestic pigs and their closest relatives, wild boars, is perfectly designed to protect the tanned hides of these animals against possible parasite infections, since they spend much of their time of your time in wet environments like puddles and mud.
Marsupials
Among the most characteristic furry animals in Australia, the marsupials undoubtedly stand out. Kangaroos, koalas and the quokka have abundant fur that allows them to protect themselves from the high temperatures and the high tendency to fire in the areas they inhabit.
Murids
Being recognized as the largest family of mammals, the murids have up to a total of 650 species, among which rats and mice stand out, since they are some of the most cosmopolitan animals that we can find sharing habitat with humans. The short but dense and strong fur of these rodents allows them to have a strong coat that protects them from changes in temperature, as well as possible infections.
Other animals with fur:
- Lemures
- Squirrels
- Horses
- Raccoons
- Donkeys
- Rabbits
- Guinea Pigs
- Beavers
- Otters
- Sea Wolves
