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Why do water shrews have water-repellent fur?
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shrew
Water shrew (Neomys anomalus).
Water shrews have water-repellent fur to help them survive in their amphibious environments. Their coat consists of dense, soft fur with longer hairs that are grooved on each sideāgiving them an H-shaped cross-sectionāand covered in numerous ridges. This specialized structure effectively traps air against the animal's body.
This trapped air serves two critical purposes: it provides the coat with water-repellent properties and offers essential insulation to prevent heat loss while the shrew is submerged in cold water.1