What constituted the innermost layer of the woolly mammoth's dense, insulating coat?
Answer
A thick, dense undercoat composed of fine, curly wool
The complex, dense covering necessary for survival in plummeting temperatures consisted of two distinct layers. The innermost layer was crucial for trapping heat closest to the body. This layer was specifically described as a thick, dense undercoat made up of fine, curly wool. This design allowed the animal to maintain a layer of insulating air immediately adjacent to its skin, providing the primary defense against the intense cold of the Ice Age tundra before the outer layer even factored into the protection mechanism.
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