Figure 1.

Morphological differences among furred, feathered, and bare-skinned animals. Thermoregulatory strategies in animals depend on various morphological elements. For example feathers serve as a thermal insulator in birds, and beaks facilitate heat dissipation. In contrast, the presence of hair and piloerection form a layer that conserves warm air to prevent any sudden drop in temperature. A thick layer of hair and dark hair color conserve heat and reduce radiation. Finally, skin color and the thickness of glabrous skin influence the amount of heat radiation in different species.