Fur

Fur is a soft, thick growth of hair that covers the skin of almost all mammals. It is made up of guard hair on top and a thick underfur underneath. Guard hair helps keep moisture away from the skin, while the underfur works like a warm blanket to keep the animal warm.

Mammals have fur for many reasons, such as protection, sensing their environment, staying dry, blending in with their surroundings, and most importantly, keeping their body temperature just right. There are different kinds of hair on mammals, including regular hair that may fall out, special whisker-like hairs for feeling, and stiff hairs for defense, like those on porcupines.

The color of an animal's fur can help it hide from predators or prey, warn off attackers, or even help it attract a mate. Some animals change their fur color with the seasons, turning white in winter to blend into snow. Fur can also help animals stay warm or cool depending on where they live. The word "fur" can also describe the processed skin of animals with their hair still attached, often used to make clothing or decorations.

Composition

Fur is a special type of hair that covers the skin of almost all mammals. It has three layers, each with a different type of hair.

The bottom layer is called down hair or underfur. These hairs are short, wavy, and very numerous. They help keep the animal warm by trapping a layer of air close to the skin.

The top layer is called guard hair. These hairs are longer and coarser, and they help protect the animal by repelling water and blocking sunlight. They also help hide the animal by providing natural camouflage.

Mammals with reduced fur

Hair is a special feature of mammals, but some animals have very little fur. These are sometimes called "naked" or "hairless."

Some animals naturally have less fur. For example, animals that live in water, like cetaceans, pinnipeds, and hippopotamuses, may have less fur to help them move easily through the water. The naked mole-rat also has very little fur, which helps it live underground. Large land animals like the elephant and the rhinoceros also have little fur. The hairless bat has only a few short hairs in certain places. Most animals without much fur can't stay in the sun or cold for very long. Marsupials are born without fur and grow it later.

Humans are special because they have lost a lot of their fur compared to other primates. This may be because of changes in a gene that helps make hair. Sometimes, animals like cats, dogs, guinea-pigs, mice, and rats can be bred to have very little fur. The Sphynx cat and hairless dogs are examples of this.

Use in clothing

See also: Fur trade

Fur has been used by humans for clothing for a very long time, even by ancient people. It keeps people warm because it insulates well, and over time, people also began to use it for its look. Fur pieces can be worn inside out or outside in, depending on what they are made for and how they look. Today, fur in clothes can be colored brightly or made to look like patterns from exotic animals, or it can be cut short to look like velvet. The word “a fur” can mean a coat, wrap, or shawl.

Making fur clothing starts with getting animal pelts, where the hair stays on the processed skin of the animal. This is different from making leather, where the hair is removed and only the skin is used.

Fur is also used to make felt. One common type of felt comes from beaver fur and is used in bowler hats, top hats, and fancy cowboy hats.

Common furbearers used for clothing include fox, rabbit, mink, muskrat, beaver, ermine, otter, sable, seal, coyote, chinchilla, raccoon, and possum.

The famous [bearskins](/wiki/Bearskin) of the [King's Guard](/wiki/King's_Guard) at Buckingham Palace are made from the fur of [American black bears](/wiki/American_black_bear).

A [seal fur](/wiki/Fur_seal) coat once worn by [Carl Ben Eielson](/wiki/Carl_Ben_Eielson) (1897–1929), a [USAF](/wiki/United_States_Air_Force) pilot and explorer of the Arctic

A fur store in [Tallinn](/wiki/Tallinn), Estonia, in 2019