 SUBJECT: Mammals & Forests The Long, the Short & the Sharp |
Fur, whiskers, wool and spines are all made from hair, one of the
mammal's trademarks. Why do mammals have hair? 
Furry coats help mammals survive - hair and fur trap air and keep
out cold and heat, wind and rain, insulating the mammal's body from
its surroundings. The sharp quills of a porcupine are a type of hair. Quills help protect porcupines from attack. Other mammals, like mountain lions, have specialized hair called whiskers that lets them know when they are in contact with an object. Hair is also used to communicate information. The erect hair on the back of a wolf signals danger. The white underside of a white-tailed deer's or jackrabbit's tail is flashed when escaping from danger to either confuse the predators or warn other animals of the presence of danger. |
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