What characterized the insulating coat of the Woolly Rhino?
Answer
A thick undercoat of woolly hair overlaid by long, coarse guard hairs
The Woolly Rhinoceros possessed a highly specialized insulating layer crucial for surviving frigid environments. This insulation was structured in two parts: an inner layer consisting of a thick undercoat of woolly hair, which trapped air for warmth, and an outer layer composed of long, coarse guard hairs. These guard hairs could reach significant lengths, sometimes up to a meter, providing an external shield against snow and moisture. This elaborate pelage system contrasts sharply with the largely hairless, thick hide seen on modern African and Asian rhino species, indicating adaptation to severe thermal stress.
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