What is moulting?
Q: What is moulting?
A: Moulting is the process by which an animal routinely sheds part of its body, such as its outer layer or covering, at particular times of year or points in its life cycle.
Q: What other terms are used to refer to moulting?
A: Other terms used for moulting include sloughing, shedding, and ecdysis.
Q: What parts of the body can be shed during moulting?
A: During moulting, the epidermis (skin), hair, fur, wool, or other external layer may be shed. In some species, other body parts may also be shed such as wings in insects.
Q: Are there any examples of animals that undergo moulting?
A: Examples of animals that undergo moulting include birds (shedding old feathers), mammals (especially dogs and other canidae shedding old hairs), reptiles shedding old skin, and arthropods shedding their entire exoskeleton.
Q: Is there a specific time when animals typically go through the process of moulting?
A: Yes, typically animals will go through the process of moulting at particular times of year or points in their life cycle.
Q: Does every species experience some form of molting?
A: Yes, every species experiences some form of molting although it may vary from species to species.
Q: How does an animal's environment affect its molting pattern?
A: An animal's environment can have an effect on its molting pattern as certain environmental conditions can trigger changes in hormones which then lead to changes in the timing and frequency with which they go through the process of molting.
