Page 23 - Mammal (DK Eyewitness)

Karakul fur
Short, textured fur
SHORT AND DENSE
The beautiful, velvet-like pelts
of young karakul sheep are
known as “Persian lamb.” Sheep Colobus monkey fur
were domesticated some 10-
12,000 years ago, and today Long, thick hairs
Beaver fur there are about 350 breeds,
raised for meat as well as wool. LONG AND
Long guard hairs LUXURIANT
Some species of colobus
KILLED FOR PELTS monkey became rare
Like many mammals’, because of being hunted
the beaver has two types for their fur, with its long, silky-
of fur. One is a dense looking hairs. The satanic black colobus has all-
covering of short brown over, shiny black fur. Sadly, uninformed tourists still buy decorations
hairs - the underfur. The and rugs made from colobus coats.
other is a sparser growth
of longer, thicker hairs NOT “NAKED”
called the guard coat. We may think of ourselves as “naked apes,”
The guard coat gives but we have lots of hairs.
protection and They are small and not
camouflage; the very visible on the body,
underfur supplies yet human head hair
insulation and is typically Lock of
waterproofing. mammalian. human hair
Hunting North Fashions through
American beavers for the ages have
their pelts (furred WATERPROOF FUR sometimes
Despite spending large amounts of its time under
skins) was so profitable water, the water vole does not get “wet” as its emphasized hairiness, such
that wars were fought long guard hairs keep the underfur dry. as the wig (left) worn by this
over land ownership, learned judge.
and the beaver fur
trade helped open up
much of North America WARNING STRIPES
in the 1700s and 1800s. The skunk’s distinctive stripes stand out as a warning sign. If a predator BEAUTIFUL BELLY
tries to molest the skunk it carries out its threat display, raising its tail and Most spotted cats have spotted bellies. Lynx
stamping. Should the molester ignore the warning, the skunk may turn frequently have spotted backs as well.
and spray it with foul liquid from two anal glands.
Distinctive Lynx fur
black and white stripes Skunk fur
Spotted belly fur