What two distinct components made up the thick exterior layer providing insulation for the Woolly Rhino?
Answer
Long, shaggy guard hairs overlying a dense undercoat.
The defining feature of the Woolly Rhino was its incredibly dense covering of hair, which served as its primary defense against severe cold. This thick exterior insulation consisted of two main parts. The outer layer comprised long, shaggy guard hairs, which were often reddish-yellow or dark brown, and these were effective at shedding snow and rain. Beneath this conspicuous layer was a dense undercoat, which functioned to trap a vital layer of insulating air immediately next to the skin, enhancing thermal regulation significantly.
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The MANY Interpretations of the Woolly Rhino! (Coelodonta)
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