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{{short description|Soft, thick, hairy coat of a mammal}}
{{Redirect2|Furs|Pelt|other uses|Fur (disambiguation)|and|Furs (disambiguation)|and|Pelt (disambiguation)}}
[[File:GrizzlyBearJeanBeaufort.jpg|thumb|300px|Like many mammals, [[grizzly bear]]s are covered in thick fur.]]
'''Fur''' is a thick growth of [[hair]] that covers the skin of [[mammals]]. It consists of a combination of oily [[#Guard hair|guard hair]] on top and thick [[#Down hair|underfur]] beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an [[thermal insulation|insulating]] blanket that keeps the animal warm.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/fur-animal-skin#ref114471|title=Fur {{!}} animal skin|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2018-10-30|language=en}}</ref>
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* ''[[spine (zoology)|spines]]'', which are a type of stiff guard hair used for defense in, for example, [[porcupine]]s;
* ''bristles'', which are long hairs usually used in visual signals, such as the [[mane (lion)|mane]] of a lion;
* ''velli'', often called "down fur
* ''[[wool]]'', which is long, soft, and often curly.
Hair length is negligible in thermoregulation, as some tropical mammals, such as sloths, have the same fur length as some arctic mammals but with less insulation; and, conversely, other tropical mammals with short hair have the same insulating value as arctic mammals. The denseness of fur can increase an animal's insulation value, and arctic mammals especially have dense fur; for example, the [[musk ox]] has guard hairs measuring {{convert|30|cm|in|abbr=on}} as well as a dense underfur, which forms an airtight coat, allowing them to survive in temperatures of {{convert|-40|C|F}}.<ref name=hair/>{{rp|162–163}} Some desert mammals, such as camels, use dense fur to prevent solar heat from reaching their skin, allowing the animal to stay cool; a camel's fur may reach {{convert|70|C|F}} in the summer, but the skin stays at {{convert|40|C|F}}.<ref name=hair/>{{rp|188}} [[Aquatic mammal]]s, conversely, trap air in their fur to conserve heat by keeping the skin dry.<ref name=hair/>{{rp|162–163}}
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===Down hair===
{{Anchor|down hair|downhair|underfur}}<!-- this code is used to link to this location from other articles. Rp2006-->
'''Down hair''' (also known as '''underfur''', '''undercoat''' or '''ground hair''') is the bottom
===Awn hair===
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===Guard hair===
{{Anchor|GuardHair}} <!-- Do not delete this code as it is used to link to this location from other articles. Rp2006-->
'''Guard hair''' is the top
==Mammals with reduced fur==
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{{Main|Fur clothing}}
{{See also|Fur trade}}
[[File:Buckingham-palace-guard-11279634947G5ru.jpg|thumb|upright|The iconic [[bearskin]]s of the [[Queen's Guard]] at Buckingham Palace are made from the fur of [[American black bear]]s.]]
[[File:Carl Eielson.jpg|thumb|upright|left|A [[fur seal|seal fur]] coat worn by [[Carl Ben Eielson]] (1897–1929), [[United States Air Force|USAF]] pilot
[[File:Pelz-Verkaufsstand in Tallinn, Estland.jpg|thumb|upright|A fur trading in [[Tallinn]],
Fur has long served as a source of clothing for humans, including [[Neanderthal]]s. Historically, it was worn for its insulating quality, with aesthetics becoming a factor over time. Pelts were worn in or out, depending on their characteristics and desired use. Today fur and trim used in garments may be dyed bright colors or to mimic exotic animal patterns, or shorn close like [[velvet]]. The term "a fur" may connote a coat, wrap, or shawl.
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