tactile hair

biology

Also known as: sensory hair

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

Tactile hairs, also known as vibrissae or whiskers, are specialized hairs that function as touch receptors. They are crucial for animals, particularly nocturnal ones like cats, to sense their surroundings. These sensitive hairs detect vibrations and objects, aiding in navigation and hunting, especially in low-light conditions.12

In mammals, tactile hairs are often stiff and found on the face, such as around the lips, cheeks, and nostrils, as well as on the forelegs. They are richly supplied with nerves and can help animals gauge the width of openings and detect subtle environmental changes. Beyond sensory input, whiskers can also play a role in communication, with their position indicating an animal's mood or intentions.13

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

mechanoreception
The sense of touch
…with such specialized structures as tactile hairs. The skin area served by one nerve fibre (or sensory unit) is called a receptive field, although such fields overlap considerably. Particularly sensitive, exposed body parts are sometimes called organs of touch—e.g., the tentacles of the octopus, the beak of the sandpiper, the…
Read More
…with such specialized structures as tactile hairs. The skin area served by one nerve fibre (or sensory unit) is called a receptive field, although such fields overlap considerably. Particularly sensitive, exposed body parts are sometimes called organs of touch—e.g., the tentacles of the octopus, the beak of the sandpiper, the…
Read More

malacostracan
The nervous system and sensory organs
Tactile setae occur generally over the external surfaces and appendages, especially of the antennae, food-gathering limbs, and mouthparts. Tactile hairs are present in the statocysts (organelles of balance) located, for example, in the first peduncular segment of the antennules in amphipods and the superorder Eucarida.
Read More
Tactile setae occur generally over the external surfaces and appendages, especially of the antennae, food-gathering limbs, and mouthparts. Tactile hairs are present in the statocysts (organelles of balance) located, for example, in the first peduncular segment of the antennules in amphipods and the superorder Eucarida.
Read More

touch reception
…types of receptors are common: tactile hairs and subcutaneous receptors.
Read More
…types of receptors are common: tactile hairs and subcutaneous receptors.
Read More