guard hair

anatomy

Also known as: top hair

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

Guard hairs are the long, coarse hairs that form a protective outer layer over a mammal's softer undercoat. These hairs are typically one of three types found in mammals, with guard hairs serving to shield the rest of the pelage from moisture and abrasion. They often contribute to a mammal's distinctive color patterns.12

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mammal
Skin and hair
Guard hairs protect the rest of the pelage from abrasion and frequently from moisture, and they usually lend a characteristic colour pattern. The thicker underfur is primarily insulative and may differ in colour from the guard hairs. The third common hair type is the vibrissa,…
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Guard hairs protect the rest of the pelage from abrasion and frequently from moisture, and they usually lend a characteristic colour pattern. The thicker underfur is primarily insulative and may differ in colour from the guard hairs. The third common hair type is the vibrissa,…
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fur
…extending beyond that layer, called guard hair. The principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow. Pelts that lack either element are not true furs, although they are…
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…extending beyond that layer, called guard hair. The principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow. Pelts that lack either element are not true furs, although they are…
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specialty hair fibre
…outer coat of shiny, stiff guard hairs affords protection from the elements. The undercoat, or down, composed of short, fine, soft fibre, provides insulation against heat and cold. Short, coarse, brittle hairs, called kemp, may be intermingled with both types of fibre. Separation of the downy fibre from other hair…
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…outer coat of shiny, stiff guard hairs affords protection from the elements. The undercoat, or down, composed of short, fine, soft fibre, provides insulation against heat and cold. Short, coarse, brittle hairs, called kemp, may be intermingled with both types of fibre. Separation of the downy fibre from other hair…
Read More