vibrissae

hair

Also known as: whiskers

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Article History

Related Topics:: tactile hair

See all related content

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.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.