vibrissae
vibrissae, stiff hairs on the face or nostrils of an animal, such as the whiskers of a cat. Vibrissae often act as tactile organs. The hairlike feathers around the bill and eyes of insect-feeding birds are called vibrissae, as are the paired bristles near the mouth of certain flies and the sensitive hairs of insectivorous plants.
Citation Information
Article Title:
vibrissae
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
10 November 2015
Access Date:
February 22, 2025