Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!usc!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!eru!luth!sunic!mcsun!ukc!tcdcs!swift.cs.tcd.ie!ccvax.ucd.ie!jlynch
From: jlynch@ccvax.ucd.ie
Newsgroups: sci.bio
Subject: Re: Wolverine Fur
Message-ID: <3542.269e1c6c@ccvax.ucd.ie>
Date: 13 Jul 90 19:09:31 GMT
References: <90187.164756TEMNGT23@ysub.ysu.edu> <7311@caffeine.cray.com>
Organization: University College Dublin
Lines: 30

In article <7311@caffeine.cray.com>, dtj@caffeine.cray.com (Dean Johnson) writes:
> My first guess would be that it is probably like Polar Bear fur which,
> as I recall, is hollow. The hollow fur provides an air space to be heated
> by the animal, the heat is then retained and remains fairly free of frost. 
> 
> My second guess would be that they are likely very oily critters, being
> related to bears (again, as I recall). This oil would provide some
> protection.

Polar bear hair acts as a transmitter of UV radiation from the sun to the
animals body, somewhat akin to optic fibres. Heat loss is then minimised by the
animals thick fur and its black skin. The heat being transmitted could thus 
prevent freezing of the hair but NOT by use of the animals body heat but by
use of external energy. Wolverines are most related to the Mustelids
(stoats, weasels, martens and badgers) and it would be interesting to see
if their hair freezes or not. (at a guess Id think stoat/weasel hair wouldnt as
they are tundral animals). Oil would probably act as a freeze deterent as
Dean mentioned.
		Yours,
			JML

===========================================================
John M. Lynch,                        Ph; 693244-2261
Mammal Research Group
Dept. of Zoology,
University College Dublin,		  JLYNCH@CCVAX.UCD.IE
Belfield,
Dublin 4,				  JMLYNH92@IRLEARN.UCD.IE
Ireland.
===========================================================