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ground hair
fur
Also known as: underhair, underwool
Learn about this topic in these articles:
function
- In fur
…elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair. The principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow. Pelts that…
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mammals
- In mammal: Skin and hair
The thicker underfur is primarily insulative and may differ in colour from the guard hairs. The third common hair type is the vibrissa, or whisker, a stiff, typically elongate hair that functions in tactile sensation. Hairs may be further modified to form rigid quills. The “horn” of…
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