Whisker

Whiskers or vibrissae (/vaɪˈbrɪsi/; singular: vibrissa; /vaɪˈbrɪsə/) are a type of mammalian hair that are typically characterised, anatomically, by their long length, large and well-innervated hair follicle, and by having an identifiable representation in the somatosensory cortex of the brain.'Since rapid movement of the vibrissae consumes energy, and has required the evolution of specialised musculature, it can be assumed that whisking must convey some sensory advantages to the animal. Likely benefits are that it provides more degrees of freedom for sensor positioning, that it allows the animal to sample a larger volume of space with a given density of whiskers, and that it allows control over the velocity with which the whiskers contact surfaces.''Whiskers bend forward as the cat pounces. Teeth grasp the mouse tightly around its neck. The cat holds on until the prey stops wriggling.'Directional sunlight highlights facial vibrissae of a cat.An otter with facial whiskers.Macrovibrissae of a Hooded Lister laboratory rat.A cat's prominent macrovibrissae.Micrograph cross section of an equine vibrissa.Macrovibrissae of a tiger.Laboratory mouse (C57BL/6) showing macrovibrissae.Prominent immotile vibrissae on a horse's muzzle.Supraorbital vibrissae and mystacial macrovibrissae of a house cat.Whiskers of the Brown Thrasher near the head. Whiskers or vibrissae (/vaɪˈbrɪsi/; singular: vibrissa; /vaɪˈbrɪsə/) are a type of mammalian hair that are typically characterised, anatomically, by their long length, large and well-innervated hair follicle, and by having an identifiable representation in the somatosensory cortex of the brain. They are specialised for tactile sensing (other types of hair operate as more crude tactile sensors). Vibrissae grow in various places on most mammals, including all primates except humans. In medicine, the term vibrissae also refers to the thick hairs found inside human nostrils.