The Furriest Animals on Earth
How does fluff keep animals warm in ice water and snow?
Dig deeper
Quarky is writing this for you...
The story
A sea otter has about a million hairs in a patch the size of a postage stamp, so cold water never touches its skin. A chinchilla grows dozens of hairs from one follicle, a musk ox hides silky qiviut under shaggy guard hair, and an Arctic fox turns snow-white in winter.
What you'll learn
- Fur traps a layer of air, and trapped air slows heat escaping.
- Sea otters have the densest fur of any animal.
- Fluffing up makes the trapped air layer thicker and warmer.
- Kid takeaway: your puffy winter coat copies exactly this trick.
Comments (0)
- Be the first to say something nice!
Up next
4:55
Wild & Wacky Animals · Ep 1
The Strangest Animals on Earth
Which animals sound made up but are completely real?
4:54
Wild & Wacky Animals · Ep 2
The Funniest Faces in the Animal Kingdom
Why do some animals have such goofy faces?
4:53
Wild & Wacky Animals · Ep 5
The Silliest Dancers and Walkers
Do animals really dance, and what are they saying?
4:57
Wild & Wacky Animals · Ep 7
The Fastest Animals on Earth
Who is the real speed champion of the planet?