In:
Journal of The Royal Society Interface, The Royal Society, Vol. 12, No. 104 ( 2015-03), p. 20141206-
Kurzfassung:
Vertebrate surface structures, including mammalian skin and hair structures, have undergone various modifications during evolution in accordance with functional specializations. Harbour seals rely on their vibrissal system for orientation and foraging. To maintain tactile sensitivity even at low temperatures, the vibrissal follicles are heated up intensely, which could cause severe heat loss to the environment. We analysed skin samples of different body parts of harbour seals, and expected to see higher hair densities at the vibrissal pads as a way to reduce heat loss. In addition to significantly higher hair densities around the vibrissae than on the rest of the body, we show a unique fur structure of hair bundles consisting of broad guard hairs along with hairs of a new type, smaller than guard hairs but broader than underhairs, which we defined as ‘intermediate hairs’. This fur composition has not been reported for any mammal so far and may serve for thermal insulation as well as drag reduction. Furthermore, we describe a scale-like skin structure that also presumably plays a role in drag reduction.
Materialart:
Online-Ressource
ISSN:
1742-5689
,
1742-5662
DOI:
10.1098/rsif.2014.1206
Sprache:
Englisch
Verlag:
The Royal Society
Publikationsdatum:
2015
ZDB Id:
2156283-0
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