The Evolutionary Role of Baldness in Species Adaptation

Cetaceans, including whales and dolphins, have existed for more than 30 million years. Their lack of hair is due to being aquatic animals. The replacement for this lack is a layer of fat that is covered by their skin.

Elephant

The most hairy part of an elephant’s body is the tuft at the end of its tail. For temperature control, elephants have dispensed with hair-covered skin. Since these large animals live in warm environments, their main problem is staying cool, so it is easier to lose excess heat through their thick skin than through a layer of hair.

Crested dog

Some animals are bald by nature; others, due to various modified genetic factors. Such is the case of the Chinese Crested Dog, which, despite its name, is believed to have originated in Africa, perhaps as a result of crossbreeding with the Mexican Xoloitzcuintli species.

Naked mole-rat

The naked mole-rat lives underground, so it doesn’t need a fur coat to protect itself from the sun. Its body temperature is determined by its environment rather than by homeostasis. In fact, naked mole-rats have around 100 fine hairs on their bodies, which act as sensory aids to perceive their surroundings. They also have hairs between their toes, making it easier for them to dig tunnels.

This story was written in Spanish in Ecoosfera.