fur - Fur clothing

A covering of hairs found today only in mammals, though there is some evidence that extinct flying reptiles had fur. It presumably evolved as a means of controlling heat loss from the body (most modern mammals maintain a constant body temperature).

The term fur refers to the body hair of non-human mammals also known as the pelage (like the term plumage in birds). the animal's coat may consist of short ground hair, long guard hair, and, in some cases, medium awn hair.

Fur usually consists of two main layers:

Ground hair or underfur — the bottom layer consisting of wool hairs which tend to be shorter, flattened, curly and denser than the top layer. Guard hair — the top layer consisting of longer straight shafts of hair that stick out through the underfur.

Fur clothing

Fur has long served as an important source of clothing for humans, especially in colder climates. Modern cultures continue to wear fur and fur trim, as dictated by fashion trends and it is still considered by many as a luxury item.