With everything that's going on in our world, it's no wonder why you probably haven't thought about why animals have fur. I, fur one, have always been a huge fan of fur. (I couldn't wait to say that.)
There are actually several reasons why creatures are covered in hair and after you've read this little ditty, you'll have answers.
Here are some reasons why animals have fur:
1. Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation, a fancy word for the regulation of body temperature, is the main reason why animals have fur. This perplexed me since us humans don't have fur. Most of us anyway. Don't ask the guy with back hair.
Moving on to otters. Great segue. They have the thickest fur in the animal kingdom. They're unlike dolphins and whales since they don't have blubber to warm them. The great majority of them live in Alaska, there aren't many hanging out in Hawaii, and they're on land most of the time so this may explain their thick hair. They're incessant groomers -- I wonder if they know the Kardashians -- most likely because their fur is so important to their temperature regulation.
Which brings us to lions. Why do lions have fur since they're largely located in warm environments? It's nature's way to protect their necks from predators, it gives other animals the heads up that they're the pride's leader, and it's a way to attract females. Men. Take notes. You may want to grow a beard.
The mane, which is largely only on the males with very few females sporting them, is believed to get darker as they age. I wish I could say the same.
2. Camouflage
Nature knew it had to give animals protection to ward off extinction and for them to protect their young. It also helps them hide from predators. If this is a reason why animals have fur, why isn't there green fur on jungle animals? Because animals don't see colors like we do. Stripes, spots, and other markings DO blend in with their environment.
3. Beauty
God wasn't messing around when he made animals. He went for the jackpot when he created their fur, wool, feathers, and scales. (The latter two are made of beta-keratin whereas mammals are covered in alpha-keratin.)
Zebras and cheetahs and peacocks oh my! Their beauty stuns and delights. I can't imagine life without their existence and their beauty is a part of that.
4. Protection
All of us know how brutal the sun, rain, and snow can be so fur is there to protect the skin. It's also there to ward off scrapes, cuts, and other injuries. When a lion cub is picked up by the nape, when a dog runs through the brush, or when a tiger walks through the jungle, their skin needs protection from the things that can penetrate the skin. I know the way my dogs play and if not for their fur, it wouldn't be a pretty sight.
The color of fur can also protect them from the elements, especially the sun, depending on whether it's light or dark. Even in sexual selection, fur matters. (Chameleons must be seeing lots of action.)
5. Sensory purposes
Animals like crabs and crayfish have sensory hairs that can detect movement, vibration, and the currents. Chemoreceptors (for the taste sensory) are on every earthworm. Catfish use their whiskers/barbels to find food and some fish have hair cells in their ears to recognize vibrations and to communicate that information to the brain. And who said fish aren't smart.
Grasshoppers are covered with hair, called sensilla, to detect air movement. Scorpions have the same ability. Spiders’ hair is used to help them hear and they're extra sensitive. The hair, not the spider. Although I did see a spider let a bug go once, but I digress. They also use it for grip and protection. The sparse hair of elephants carries heat away from their bodies and into the air.
Whales, dolphins, manatees, and sea lions, all mammals, are obviously without fur so what's the deal? Because they're in the water where fur would hinder them and since they also have little sun exposure. Blubber serves as temperature protection as well.
There are other mammals without fur, including some dogs and all rhinos, elephants, bats, and moles, but they do have hair. The hairless rare species among cats and dogs can be explained because they're the creation of breeders. (May they be shaved like their unsuspecting victims and see how they like it. But I'm not bitter.)
Furless land mammals can obviously regulate their body temperatures without it and most of them have guard hair that protects their skin from the elements.
So what is guard hair? It's hair that sits on top of fur if animals have it. If they don't, it serves the same purpose: To protect them from the elements/moisture. Furless and animals with fur have it.
ALL mammals -- at some time in their lives -- have hair, even animals like dolphins who are born with some. Humpback whales have hair follicles on the bump on the top of their heads. How cute is that. Sort of like the characters in the Dr. Seuss books.
So the obvious question for this blog post is, why do you have so much time on your hands? Kidding, it would be, "Human beings are mammals. Why don't they have fur?"
Just like so much about the animal kingdom, we just don't know. We have a blob of hair on our heads, most of us, and some on our skin, but otherwise...nothin'. Maybe our vellus and androgenic hair, hair above and below the neck, protect us completely. There are hypotheses and suggestions but no facts supporting any explanation.
And if YOU know why human beings don't have fur, you're a psychic. So I need your help for a minute with some lottery numbers.
References:
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https://factanimal.com/lions/ -- Staff writer -- "Lion facts"
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https://www.willyswilderness.org/post/why-do-animals-have-fur -- Staff writer -- "Why Do Animals Have Fur?"
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https://www.doi.gov/blog/12-facts-about-otters-sea-otter-awareness-week#:~:text=Their%20fur%20contains%20between%20600%2C000,grooming%20and%20conditioning%20their%20fur. US Department of the Interior -- 09-25-2017
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https://www.worldwildlife.org/blogs/good-nature-travel/posts/ten-facts-about-sea-otters WWF -- "Ten Facts About Sea Otters” by Elissa Leibowitz -- 09-13-10
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https://www.britannica.com/topic/fur-animal-skin -- The Editors of Encyclopedia Brittanica -- "Fur (animal skin)"
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fur -- "Fur"
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https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/amaze.html -- "Neuroscience for Kids" Amazing Animal Senses
- https://www.cnn.com/2012/10/18/us/elephant-hair/index.html -- "Why Do Elephants Have Hair On Their Heads: Scientists Solve Head-Scratcher" By Laura Smith-Spark -- 10-18-12
P.S. If you need blogs that will grab your customers' attention, gimme a shout! Contact me at jenflattosborn@writeawaycreations.com or here.
And my tail will be wagging.