What are the molts of animals. Animal for which seasonality is not typical. Seasonal variability (molting) of small mammals. Least Shedding Breeds

and groups close to them. In most of these animals, molting is regulated by the hormone ecdysone. Since, according to molecular phylogenetics, these groups are related to each other, in Lately they are grouped under the name Ecdysosoa- Shedding. In these groups, molting is reduced to periodic shedding and change of the cuticle. Before molting, the inner layers of the old cuticle dissolve, and below it, hypodermal cells secrete a new cuticle. After a molt, the animal rapidly expands in size (usually by absorbing water or "puffing up" with air) until the new cuticle hardens, after which growth stops until the next molt (periodic growth).

Nematodes molt larvae (usually there are four larval stages), adult nematodes do not grow and do not molt. In most groups of arthropods (crustaceans, spiders, etc.), molting and growth continue throughout life.

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Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

Synonyms:

See what "Molt" is in other dictionaries:

Periodic change of outer skin and decomp. their formations (cuticles, scales, wool, feathers, etc.) in animals. It can be age-related (passes in the first months of life), seasonal (in certain seasons of the year) and constant (during ... ... Biological encyclopedic dictionary

MOLTING, the process of shedding and replacing the outer layers of the body's integument. Mammals shed their outer layers of skin and hair, often during certain seasons of the year. A person does not shed, however, constantly sheds dead dry ... ... Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary

LINKA, molts, pl. no, female (specialist.). Same as shedding. The molt of the beast. Autumn molt. Dictionary Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

Ex. fading Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Context 5.0 Informatics. 2012. moulting n., number of synonyms: 2 shedding (3) ... Synonym dictionary

Winter has passed, and with it the snow and cold. The long-awaited spring has come, the sun is baking - the best time to go to the zoo. But some visitors are unhappy and complain: why are snow goats so shaggy, and their hair sticks out in tatters, why does the fox's fur lose its winter shine and look somehow dull? Even usually neat wolves look somehow unkempt.
In fact, everything is very simple: our animals molt. In the spring, they no longer need a long, thick and lush hairline, without which they could not survive. harsh winter. It's time to replace it with another, lighter, summer one, which is half as long and less frequent. For example, a squirrel per 1 square. cm of the surface of the body, instead of 8100 winter hairs, only 4200 summer hairs grow, and in a hare, instead of 14 thousand hairs, only 7 thousand.
Animal molting has long been of interest to zoologists. Research recent years It has been established that, in addition to temperature, it is affected by light acting on the animal's body through the endocrine gland - the pituitary gland. For molting a hare, the length of daylight hours is a determining factor, while temperature only accelerates or delays this process.
The timing of molting in wild animals depends on geographical latitude terrain. In some mammals and birds, along with molting, the color also changes: light is replaced by a darker one. The white winter color of the white hare turns gray in summer, and the squirrel turns from gray in spring to red. A similar transformation occurs with the stoat, ptarmigan, and other species. Here, too, everything is clear, in winter the animals become invisible against the background of snow, in summer it is more difficult to notice them against the background of earth and grass. This is called protective coloration.
The molting of animals takes place in strict sequence and in each species in its own way. For example, in a squirrel, spring molting begins with the head. First of all, bright red summer hair breaks through at the front end of her muzzle, around her eyes, then on the front and hind legs, later of all - on the sides and on the back. The whole process of "dressing up" lasts 50-60 days. In the fox, signs of spring molting appear in March. Her coat loses its luster and begins to thin out gradually. The first signs of molting can be seen on the shoulders, then on the sides, and the back of the fox's body remains covered with winter fur until July.
Almost all animals shed. But the inhabitants continental climate, characterized by sharp seasonal changes in temperature, a change in cold winters and hot summers, molt quickly, but the inhabitants of the tropics and semi-aquatic animals (giraffe, muskrat, nutria, sea otter) - gradually. Most mammals living in temperate latitudes, sheds twice a year - in spring and autumn, but some animals (seals, marmots, ground squirrels, jerboas) - once.
Shedding is a natural process in which old and dead cells and tissues are replaced by newer ones. So, the fact that our animals shed is an indicator of their health. But if the shedding becomes irregular and is accompanied by various painful phenomena (as it sometimes happens in domestic cats and dogs), this can really be a cause for concern.
Now comes the turn of the second question: why do we not comb out our molting animals? Well, firstly, this is not entirely true: we still help pets to get rid of winter wool. For example, a yak living in the Children's Zoo is regularly combed out. But only with predators it will not work out - after all, the zoo is not a circus, here not all animals are allowed to touch themselves. But they, too, are not "left to the mercy of fate." Take a closer look: in some enclosures (for example, in musk oxen) you will notice old Christmas trees or special structures made of different materials- the so-called "chesalki". Animals itch about them regularly and with obvious pleasure. And their winter wool does not go to waste - its employees then collect and give it to birds and small animals, which use it to build nests. Such nests can be seen in the "Night World".
Well, in conclusion, let's see who actively molts in the zoo in spring, who should be paid special attention to, who is interesting to watch. Molting is easy to spot in guancos, domestic llamas and vicuñas, foxes and hares, gray and red wolves, raccoons and raccoon dogs, musk oxen, snow goats and camels. Maybe you yourself will add someone to this long list?
M.Tarkhanova

What is molting in birds? This is the process by which the feather cover changes. For birds, it is a necessity. Over time, feathers wear out, lose their thermal qualities and even affect the ability to fly. When molting, the layer of the epidermis also changes, which periodically dies off. Scales on paws and beak plates are updated.

All birds molt differently. For some it is fast, for some it lasts more than six months. Some birds molt profusely, so that even bald patches form, while others may not notice the process of changing plumage. However, they all have one thing in common - a weakening of the immune system. Birds become less mobile, they experience drowsiness. Also, birds during molting need more high-calorie food. As for domestic individuals, they require more careful care during this period.

Types of molting

There are two types of molting:

Juvenile - in young individuals. It occurs in all birds different time. For example, in chickens, juvenile molting begins at the age of 3-45 days from birth and ends after about 4-5 months. And in young individuals, this molt occurs somewhat later. It begins at the age of 60-70 days, but ends after 2 months.
Periodic is a molt in adults that occurs once a year.

What is molting in birds? This is a periodic change of plumage. In adults, in natural conditions, it does not depend on age, but on the season. Usually it is the end of summer or autumn. But in birds kept in captivity, molting occurs only after oviposition.

Plumage change periods

Birds always begin to molt from the central part. The new feathers have a wider fan than the discarded ones, and they are lighter than the old ones. The duration of the change of plumage is also different for everyone.

Birds can molt several times a year, it all depends on their species. But all birds, without exception, go through the first annual change of feathers. The beginning of this process is different for each species. For some - between migrations, for others - in the interval between laying eggs and the appearance of chicks.

What do birds need during molting?

During this period, the immunity of birds is weakened, and their body needs additional trace elements. If in natural environment Whereas birds intuitively find everything they need, birds living at home need additional care. This includes mandatory vitamin supplements and special feeds. This is especially necessary for those whose process takes place in winter period. Birds that have bright colors need more attention than others. If they are fed incorrectly, the plumage will become dull.

What to do if the bird does not shed

The reason for the lack of shedding may lie in illness or incipient health problems. Such birds are kept in warm rooms, but the air should not be very dry or humid. It is also necessary that the cage or aviary be large and spacious.

What is molting in birds? This is a change in plumage, in which the skin can become stiffer. So that it does not dry out and remains elastic, bathing suits with water should be installed in cages and aviaries. If the bird does not use them, then it must be sprayed daily with a spray bottle. But if the molt has not come, then you can try adding ant pupae to food.

Shedding in chickens: features

Due to the fact that it is possible to adjust the climate, the molting process does not depend on the season at all. A hen hatched in spring sheds in early winter or late autumn. Accordingly, if she was born in the fall, then this process occurs at the end of spring or summer. During the molting period, the hen does not lay eggs. It lasts from 15 to 20 days. After molting, the egg production of the chicken immediately resumes.

Individuals that were born in the spring are mainly raised for meat. Because their egg laying period is short, it is unprofitable to keep such a bird on a farm. At the same time, molting in such chickens proceeds very slowly.

How do parrots change plumage?

In these birds, the process occurs several times a year. The very first molt in parrots begins at the age of two months. This period is very important, as individuals occur. After the end of the molt, the parrot is considered already adult and sexually mature.

This is the process for the normal existence of birds. Feathers change not only during puberty, but throughout life. This usually happens twice a year. In this case, the bird becomes inactive, lethargy and drowsiness appear. This is due to the fact that during molting, metabolic processes intensify.

The change of plumage also occurs after the mating period. In some species, the molting process is generally invisible, bald patches are not observed. But if the feathers fall out unbalanced, then the parrot cannot fly at this time. Often molting is a bird's reaction to fright. Sometimes it is a symptom of a serious illness.

How cockatiels shed

This natural process occurs in all birds, regardless of species. Corella thus also changes its colors a little, as the new feathers have brighter and more saturated shades. But this species of birds has its own characteristics.

We have already found out what is called molting in birds. In Corella, this process occurs gradually. The flight feathers change first, then the tail feathers. The process takes a long time - up to six months. And in several stages. But visually it is very difficult to notice.

Young birds molt a little faster: they begin to lose plumage by four months, and finish by the end of the first year of life. At this time, diet is very important. Corella needs to get as many vitamins and minerals as possible.

When molting, some parrots experience severe pain. But for the most part, the process is painless. However, molting in cockatiels is accompanied by unpleasant sensations. Therefore, in captivity, drafts and high humidity are contraindicated for them. Nutrition should be complete, and during the peak of molting - very nutritious. Oil seeds must be present in the diet, sunflower, hemp or chopped nuts can be given. It is also recommended to use fortified ones which are sold in all pet stores.

In the article, we examined what is called molting in birds, how it happens and when. Summing up, we can say briefly: this is the change of old feathers to new ones, which in birds different types and ages fall at different times, and also depends on the change of seasons, and so on.

Instruction

Zoologists have been observing the molting of animals for decades. It has been established by research that various factors influence the time and quality of molting. One of them is temperature. The biological process of molting in animals starts in nature both at low and at high temperatures. Animals in nature, or kept in enclosures, molt "like clockwork." Such molts are called autumn and spring.

A double molt is carried mainly by fur-bearing animals, squirrels, water rats, thin-toed ground squirrels, minks, hares, etc. Moles molt 3 times a year. But not all animals change their cover 2-3 times a year. Hibernating animals molt only once a year. In individuals that are in hibernation for 7-9 months, a new cover of hair does not form during this period. They carry 1 long molt, which lasts from spring until hibernation.

Pets kept warm, periodically walking on the street, sitting for some time on the windowsills, constantly receive a temperature difference. Their molting loses its seasonality, becomes permanent, pathological. In addition, this type of molting can occur with the wrong diet of animals, stress and other circumstances. Hair loss with the wrong diet can take place in different ways, with less or more loss of cover. With poor feed, hair loss occurs mainly on the hips and back of the animal.

Age molting is a significant variability of fur during the growth period of animals. Moreover, in young individuals, changes occur more actively. The time of age molting for each animal depends on the season of birth of the baby. The first age molt occurs in the period from 3-7 months from the date of birth of the animal. Cubs at the end breastfeeding change the original fluffy cover. Secondary wool differs from the first one in structure and color. Age molting is typical for sheep, white fox, seals and other animals. Most often, the first fluff on animals is softer, more tender and velvety. The guard hairs in babies are thin, practically do not differ from fluff in thickness and length. Such a cover is often called puffy. The color of the first hairline is also different from the subsequent ones. Most often, the former is darker, with the exception of newborn seals.

Wool, fluff, can shed in females during the sexual cycle or after the birth period of the animal. Shedding usually begins 5-10 weeks after the babies appear. Wool with such a molt mainly falls from the abdomen, chest and sides. Such a molt is called sexual, it, like other molts, depends on the state of hormones in the animal's body.

Winter has passed, and with it the snow and cold. The long-awaited spring has come, the sun is baking - the best time to go to the zoo. But some visitors are unhappy and complain: why are snow goats so shaggy, and their hair sticks out in tatters, why does the fox's fur lose its winter shine and look somehow dull? Even usually neat wolves look somehow unkempt.
In fact, everything is very simple: our animals molt. In the spring, they no longer need a long, thick and lush hairline, without which they could not survive the harsh winter. It's time to replace it with another, lighter, summer one, which is half as long and less frequent. For example, a squirrel per 1 square. cm of the surface of the body, instead of 8100 winter hairs, only 4200 summer hairs grow, and in a hare, instead of 14 thousand hairs, only 7 thousand.
Animal molting has long been of interest to zoologists. Recent studies have established that, in addition to temperature, it is affected by light acting on the animal's body through the endocrine gland - the pituitary gland. For molting a hare, the length of daylight hours is a determining factor, while temperature only accelerates or delays this process.
The timing of molting in wild animals depends on the geographical latitude of the area. In some mammals and birds, along with molting, the color also changes: light is replaced by a darker one. The white winter color of the white hare turns gray in summer, and the squirrel turns from gray in spring to red. A similar transformation occurs with the stoat, ptarmigan, and other species. Here, too, everything is clear, in winter the animals become invisible against the background of snow, in summer it is more difficult to notice them against the background of earth and grass. This is called protective coloration.
The molting of animals takes place in strict sequence and in each species in its own way. For example, in a squirrel, spring molting begins with the head. First of all, bright red summer hair breaks through at the front end of her muzzle, around her eyes, then on her front and hind legs, and lastly on her sides and back. The whole process of "dressing up" lasts 50-60 days. In the fox, signs of spring molting appear in March. Her coat loses its luster and begins to thin out gradually. The first signs of molting can be seen on the shoulders, then on the sides, and the back of the fox's body remains covered with winter fur until July.
Almost all animals shed. But the inhabitants of the continental climate, characterized by sharp seasonal changes in temperature, the change of cold winters and hot summers, molt quickly, but the inhabitants of the tropics and semi-aquatic animals (giraffe, muskrat, nutria, sea otter) - gradually. Most mammals living in temperate latitudes molt twice a year - in spring and autumn, but some animals (seals, marmots, ground squirrels, jerboas) - once.
Shedding is a natural process in which old and dead cells and tissues are replaced by newer ones. So, the fact that our animals shed is an indicator of their health. But if the shedding becomes irregular and is accompanied by various painful phenomena (as it sometimes happens in domestic cats and dogs), this can really be a cause for concern.
Now comes the turn of the second question: why do we not comb out our molting animals? Well, firstly, this is not entirely true: we still help pets to get rid of winter wool. For example, a yak living in the Children's Zoo is regularly combed out. But only with predators it will not work out - after all, the zoo is not a circus, here not all animals are allowed to touch themselves. But they, too, are not "left to the mercy of fate." Take a closer look: in some enclosures (for example, in musk oxen) you will notice old Christmas trees or special structures made of different materials - the so-called "combs". Animals itch about them regularly and with obvious pleasure. And their winter wool does not go to waste - its employees then collect and give it to birds and small animals, which use it to build nests. Such nests can be seen in the "Night World".
Well, in conclusion, let's see who actively molts in the zoo in spring, who should be paid special attention to, who is interesting to watch. Molting is easy to spot in guancos, domestic llamas and vicuñas, foxes and hares, gray and red wolves, raccoons and raccoon dogs, musk oxen, snow goats and camels. Maybe you yourself will add someone to this long list?
M.Tarkhanova

seasonal variability. Mammalian wild animals in the temperate and cold zones usually change their hair coat twice a year. This change of hair, called molting, occurs in spring and autumn, and accordingly it is called spring and autumn. Observations have shown that in tropical countries and in the far north, the animals living there molt only once a year, and it happens gradually. In mammals living mainly in water, there is no noticeable spring and autumn molting. Some species of seals molt only in spring.

When animals are domesticated, molting becomes irregular, and so much so that in some areas of the skin there is no change of hair at all.

In connection with molting, winter and summer hairline is distinguished. In most fur-bearing animals, winter and summer cover differ in height, density, different quantitative ratio of outer and down hairs, shape, structure, hair color, thickness and density of skin tissue.

The strongest differences in the structure of winter and summer hair cover in fur-bearing animals living in a continental climate, characterized by sharp seasonal temperature changes. Summer hair is shorter, coarser, less dense than winter. Downy hair is poorly developed.

In some species of fur-bearing animals, summer hair differs from winter in color, for example, in hare, ermine, white fox, changing white winter fur to dark summer.

The skin tissue of summer skins is coarse-pored and mostly thicker than that of winter skins. The roots of the guard hairs are located in the skin tissue so deeply that black dots can be observed in some places on the mezdrya side. The skin side of the skin has a blackish, bluish or greenish color. Summer skins are of little value. Their extraction in the USSR for the vast majority of animal species is prohibited by law.

Winter skins have long, thin and thick hair. Downy hair predominates in the hairline. The skin tissue on the inner side is uniformly white.

The most complete pubescence of the skin is reached by the beginning of winter. The skins obtained at this time are called full-haired. By this time, the hairline acquires the best color for this type of animal.

The greatest "maturity" of the skins of different fur-bearing animals in different regions is reached at different times (in our latitudes between November and February).

The change of hair, called molting, does not occur simultaneously on all parts of the animal's body; in some places it comes earlier, in others - later. The sequence of hair changes in certain areas in different animal species is also different.

Molting begins in areas of the body called "molting centers", and then spreads to neighboring areas in a sequence characteristic of each species. In some animals, molting begins with the rump, and then spreads to the spine, thighs, scruff, head, paws and belly; in others, the molt proceeds in the reverse order, starting from the head and ending at the rump.

The periodic change of hair is due to the cyclical nature of their development, characterized by the change of flask-shaped hair that has completed its growth, growing new papillary hair.

Molting is associated with the formation of colored, usually dark spots, visible on the skin side of dried raw skins. This phenomenon is explained by the fact that pigmented hair roots lie deep and closely lying in dark places. As the hair grows, the roots are released from the pigment and the color of the spot disappears. Therefore, in the light places of the mezra of the skin there are always grown or light, non-pigmented hairs that are in the growth stage.

Moulting time also depends on the age of the animal. So, in many species of fur-bearing animals, the molting of young animals proceeds somewhat later than in adults.

There is also a dependence of molting on the sex of the animal. In spring, female fur animals of many species molt earlier than males and their molting proceeds more rapidly.

Most species of fur-bearing animals molt twice a year. Animals falling into hibernation, molt once a year. The mole molts three times a year.

A double molt during the year occurs in a squirrel, a water rat, a thin-toed ground squirrel, a hare, a hare, a hare, a sable, a marten, a column, an ermine, an arctic fox, a mink.

In fur-bearing animals falling into hibernation (gopher, marmot, chipmunk, badger), during the 7-9-month hibernation, a new hairline is not formed. They have one long hairline molt, which begins in the spring and ends by the time they hibernate.

This means that these animals do not have summer fur. In summer they are covered with thinned winter fur, consisting mainly of faded, dull, outer hair.

Age variability. The hair and skin of fur-bearing animals and animals undergo significant changes with age, and the most dramatic changes are observed at an early age. As a rule, newborn cubs, growing up, at the end of the lactation period, change their primary hairline to another, secondary one, which differs both in structure and in color from the primary one. Age variability is characteristic of the hairline of sheep, seals, and white foxes.

Usually, the primary hairline differs from the secondary one in greater softness, tenderness and velvety; guard hairs are thin, not much different from fluff in thickness and length (in connection with which the primary hairline is often called puffy).

The primary hairline also differs from the secondary in its color, which is most often darker than the color of adults. The exception is the white coloration of the lush hairline of newborn seal pups (whites). The hairline of adult seals is dark in color, in addition, it is less lush.

The skin tissue of skins covered with primary hair is thin, loose and fragile.

The secondary hairline is close in quality to the fur of an adult animal.

Due to the fact that the quality of the skins of fur-bearing animals is low, their fishing is prohibited (with the exception of the fishing of pests - a wolf, a jackal, a ground squirrel).

Age-related variability is expressed differently in most agricultural and domestic animals, in which the skins of the young give the most valuable fur product (karakul, astrakhan, foal, goat, calf). But even for this group of animals there are exceptions: the skins of a rabbit, cat, dog with primary hair are of little value.

Sexual variability. The hair and skin of males and females of fur-bearing animals has some differences. These differences are relatively unsharp, expressed in the size of the skins, the length and thickness of the hair, as well as the thickness of the skin tissue.

The skins of male fur-bearing animals, except for the beaver, are larger than the skins of females.

In males, the hairline, with rare exceptions, is more magnificent and coarser (black polecat, weasel, bear). In some species of animals, males, unlike females, have a mane (fur seals, sheep).

The skin tissue of the skins of males is thicker than that of females. individual variability.

In a batch of skins of the same species, age and sex, obtained in the same area and at the same time of the year, it is often difficult to find two completely identical skins in color, height, thickness and softness of the hairline. This is due to the individual (personal) variability of animals, which does not depend on sex, age, season and habitat.

The individual variability of the hairline of fur-bearing animals, agricultural and domestic animals is a serious factor that complicates the sorting of fur raw materials and semi-finished products, as it requires an individual assessment of the quality of each skin.

In different types of fur-bearing animals, individual variability is expressed differently. For example, in otter skins it is weakly expressed, while in sable skins, on the contrary, it is very strong.

A batch of sable skins coming from one region and one variety is so diverse that it has to be divided into groups according to color, pomp, softness, and other features of the hairline.

In agricultural and domestic animals, the individual variability of the hairline is expressed no less sharply than in wild fur-bearing animals.

For example, in the skins of karakul lambs, individual differences in the nature, structure and size of the hairline curls are so great that the skins are divided into dozens of varieties of different quality and value during sorting. In domestic animals, even belonging to the same breed, there is individual variability in the color of the hairline. An example is the same astrakhan skins, which come in black, gray, brown and other colors.

and groups close to them. In most of these animals, molting is regulated by the hormone ecdysone. Since, according to molecular phylogenetics, these groups are related to each other, they have recently been combined under the name Ecdysosoa- Shedding. In these groups, molting is reduced to periodic shedding and change of the cuticle. Before molting, the inner layers of the old cuticle dissolve, and below it, hypodermal cells secrete a new cuticle. After a molt, the animal rapidly expands in size (usually by absorbing water or "puffing up" with air) until the new cuticle hardens, after which growth stops until the next molt (periodic growth).

Links

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

Synonyms:

See what "Molt" is in other dictionaries:

LINKA, molts, pl. no, female (specialist.). Same as shedding. The molt of the beast. Autumn molt. Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

Ex. fading Dictionary of Russian synonyms. Context 5.0 Informatics. 2012. moulting n., number of synonyms: 2 shedding (3) ... Synonym dictionary

Owners of furry four-legged pets are well aware of such a period when the hair of their pets is found absolutely everywhere, and even in food. This causes a lot of inconvenience, but is a completely normal physiological process. Shedding affects not only cats and dogs, but also other representatives of terrestrial vertebrates. All of them require special attention during this period. What and how to do during molting - we will tell further.

What is a molt

Moulting is a natural process during which the outer cover of the animal changes. In each class of tetrapods, this process has a certain character. Yes, reptiles change upper layer skin, epidermis. Mammals and birds change their skin (feathers, fur, wool). Insects are capable of shedding body parts during molting.

Mammals and birds are characterized by seasonal molting. They change plumage and fur from warmer to lighter, and vice versa. Along with the density of the cover, its color may also change.

Pets that can shed

Pets subject to shedding include:

(canines);
birds (etc.);
lizards;
amphibian();

Did you know? Latin name of all four-legged animals, Tetrapoda, comes from the fusion of two ancient Greek words: τετράς, which means« four» , and πούς -« leg» .

Features of the molting process in pets

We have already said that in each class of terrestrial vertebrates, the change of cover has its own characteristics. We will tell about them further.

In dogs

Natural shedding in dogs and all canids is seasonal (spring and autumn). The seasonal molt does not last long, a week or two. For the first time, this phenomenon is experienced by young individuals at the age of six months. In order for a four-legged pet to be able to more easily endure a change of cover, it must be combed every day so that the coat can recover faster and tangles do not form.

The more intensively you brush your pet, the less hair will be scattered around the living space. It should also be borne in mind that each type of wool should have its own approach. Smooth-haired ones need to be combed and wiped with a hard towel. Longhairs need to be brushed and trimmed.

During the molting period, the behavior of the animal may change, since this process is quite energy-consuming. The dog may lose weight, become more lethargic, lazy, passive. To keep the body of the animal in good shape, it is necessary to change its diet, to make it more nutritious. You should also enter in the menu more vitamins. Special vitamin complexes can be found in veterinary pharmacies.

Breeds that shed the least:

some
and some others.

Important!Pets living in apartments may shed year-round, or the seasonal shedding period may be shifted. This is due to the constant high temperature and dry air in the room. Therefore, it is advisable to take the dog outside as often as possible so that the molt is at a certain time.

In cats

Little kittens change their soft baby fur to coarse adult fur at five to seven months of age. It can last from several weeks to several months. It all depends on the breed. When the hairline has changed from child to adult, seasonal molting begins. It happens twice a year, in spring and autumn. Its duration is two to three months.

During this period, the cat becomes less active. In order for the animal to endure the change of fur coat more easily, it must be fed in a balanced way and given a full range of vitamins. You should also comb your pet daily to rid it of dead hairs and stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles for faster growth of new hair.

If you notice that the cat has been shedding for longer than three months and its coat is dull, unhealthy, falling out in shreds, then you should contact your veterinarian. Perhaps there are some deviations in the health of the pet.

To prevent an unnatural change of cover, you should:

regularly examine the pet for bald patches, bumps or spots on the skin;
enrich the cat's diet with B vitamins, choose a more suitable food for the type of coat and age;
Regularly treat your pet for fleas, ticks and worms.

Breeds of low shedding cats:

Birds

The usual inhabitants of apartments as pets from birds are parrots and canaries.

Parrots have a seasonal molt. The change of plumage occurs gradually, and therefore the behavior of the bird does not change. During this period, it is enough to introduce minerals, vitamins, amino acids into the diet. They will help plumage recover faster. It should also limit the bird in free flight. If a bleeding wound has formed at the site of the fallen feather, then it must be treated with a solution of ferric chloride.

Canaries change plumage once a year, and this process lasts about a month. The young are still going through a juvenile molt, during which the fluff is replaced by feathers. This happens in the second or third months of life and lasts until the chicks reach six months of age. The end of the juvenile molt indicates the achievement of puberty.

The change of plumage in canaries is more energy-intensive than in parrots. Therefore, during this period, their voice disappears, their appetite is lost, and the temperature rises. If the change of plumage occurs in the warm season, then the cage with the bird should be taken out to Fresh air under Sun rays. In the cold season, it is necessary to create artificial lighting using fluorescent lamps. Greens, fruits, berries, vegetables, eggshells, ash, clay should be introduced into the diet.

Important!Try to disturb the birds as little as possible. If they get scared, they can easily injure fragile feathers on the bars of the cage.

Spiders

In spiders, the change of cover occurs constantly, starting from birth. Thus, they have the growth and development of the exoskeleton. Newly born spiders molt about once a month. In older individuals, the interval between changes of exoskeletons is two to three months. In adults, this process occurs every three years. The darkening of the bare area of the abdomen indicates the approach of molting.

The exoskeleton replacement process in arachnids can be divided into four stages: pre-molting, molting, post-molting and intermolting stage. On initial stage a new exoskeleton is formed. Hormones are responsible for this. Because of this, the spider becomes very aggressive. The pre-molt lasts from several days to two or three weeks. At the molting stage, arthropods create excess pressure inside themselves, thus tearing the old exoskeleton.

This may take them from several minutes to several hours. At the post-molting stage, arthropods are very vulnerable.

Their new "shell" is still very soft, so they are not able to move and hunt normally. Recovery can take anywhere from a few days to a month, depending on the age of the animal. On last step the spider is fully restored and returns to the usual rhythm of life.

Did you know?During molting, arthropods are able to restore previously lost limbs.

Amphibians

Amphibians change the top layer of the skin as it wears out. This usually happens in the summer. The frequency of the process depends on the ambient temperature.

Shedding occurs regularly throughout their lives, since the growth of the animal does not stop, and the skin does not grow. The cover comes off in one piece. On one of the parts of the body, it cracks, and the amphibian crawls out of it. To help themselves get rid of the old cover, animals rub against stones or driftwood. Some representatives of amphibians (frogs, salamanders) immediately eat old skin.

For the molting period, the main thing:

Take cats and dogs for walks more often.
Birds, spiders, amphibians and reptiles should be disturbed as little as possible.
Nutrition should be as balanced and varied as possible. Vitamins and minerals should be included in the diet. In the menu of mammals you need to enter fish fat, sea fish, liver.
Cats and dogs need to be brushed regularly. To clean the wool from dirt, it is advisable to use dry shampoos that strengthen the hairline.

As you can see, most of the animals that live in our house are subject to molting. For each of them, this process is very energy-intensive. And the speed of recuperation depends on how attentive the owners are to their pets.

SHELTER SHOT

periodic change of outer skin and decomp. their formations (cuticles, scales, wool, feathers, etc.) in animals. It can be age (passes in the first months of life), seasonal (in certain seasons of the year) and constant (throughout the year). L.'s offensive depends on a stage of development, age, a hormonal state of an organism, and also from conditions external. environment - temperature, photoperiod and other factors. invertebrates L. (age L. is typical in the main for arthropods) is in periodic. shedding of the old cuticular cover by the larva and replacing it with a new one. It is regulated by hormones - ecdysones, juvenile, cerebral and sinus glands. L. provides the ability to change the shape and increase the size of the animal's body, which grows until the newly formed cover (exoskeleton) becomes tight and begins to inhibit growth, then the animal molts again. In insects, the number of L. varies from 3 (flies) or 4-5 (multiple orthopterans, bugs, butterflies, etc.) to 25-30 (mayflies, stoneflies). Vertebrates L. is associated with adaptation to certain seasons of the year, restoration of wearing out covers. Regulated by endocrine hormones. In amphibians and reptiles, L. consists in the shedding and renewal of the upper keratinized layer of the skin and occurs throughout the summer, and their frequency (from 2 to 6) depends on the temperature of the environment. In amphibians, lizards, and snakes, L. covers all parts of the body at the same time (in snakes, the upper keratinized layer of the skin - crawling out - comes off entirely). In crocodiles and turtles, L. is partial (in turtles, parts of the body that are not covered with a shell molt). Birds shed feathers, as well as horn formations on the legs and beak. The beginning of L. in many. birds is associated with a change in the length of daylight hours; moreover, usually the terms of L., reproduction and migration are separated. in time. L.'s types are various. So, when leaving the egg, the chick is dressed in embryonic fluff, which is replaced by the so-called. nesting plumage of contour feathers, then complete or partial post-breeding L. The change of all feathers usually takes place by the end of summer, when the beautiful breeding plumage is replaced by a less bright winter plumage. In some groups (anseriformes, shepherds, cranes, etc.), along with covering feathers, tail and fly feathers fall out, as a result of which the bird loses the ability to fly (for example, duck - for 20-35 days, swans - almost 1, 5 months). Settled small birds the winter coat has more feathers than the summer coat, which provides better thermal insulation in winter (for example, siskin has 2100-2400 feathers in winter, and about 1500 in summer). In mammals, age-related and seasonal hair loss is accompanied by a change in hair (for example, the soft hair of a young individual is replaced by a coarser adult animal), a change in its density (more than doubles in winter), and color. In typical shrews (mole, mole rat), the hairline to-rykh wears out quickly, except for seasonal, it happens - permanent, so-called. compensatory, L., contributing to the restoration of hairline. Animals living in conditions with a sharp change in cold winters and hot summers molt quickly, the inhabitants of the tropics and semi-aquatic animals (muskrat, nutria, sea otter) - gradually. Most mammals molt twice a year - in spring and autumn, some animals (eg, seals, marmots, ground squirrels, jerboas) - once.

Winter has passed, and with it the snow and cold. The long-awaited spring has come, the sun is baking - the best time to go to the zoo. But some visitors are unhappy and complain: why are snow goats so shaggy, and their hair sticks out in tatters, why does the fox's fur lose its winter shine and look somehow dull? Even usually neat wolves look somehow unkempt.
In fact, everything is very simple: our animals molt. In the spring, they no longer need a long, thick and lush hairline, without which they could not survive the harsh winter. It's time to replace it with another, lighter, summer one, which is half as long and less frequent. For example, a squirrel per 1 square. cm of the surface of the body, instead of 8100 winter hairs, only 4200 summer hairs grow, and in a hare, instead of 14 thousand hairs, only 7 thousand.
Animal molting has long been of interest to zoologists. Recent studies have established that, in addition to temperature, it is affected by light acting on the animal's body through the endocrine gland - the pituitary gland. For molting a hare, the length of daylight hours is a determining factor, while temperature only accelerates or delays this process.
The timing of molting in wild animals depends on the geographical latitude of the area. In some mammals and birds, along with molting, the color also changes: light is replaced by a darker one. The white winter color of the white hare turns gray in summer, and the squirrel turns from gray in spring to red. A similar transformation occurs with the stoat, ptarmigan, and other species. Here, too, everything is clear, in winter the animals become invisible against the background of snow, in summer it is more difficult to notice them against the background of earth and grass. This is called protective coloration.
The molting of animals takes place in strict sequence and in each species in its own way. For example, in a squirrel, spring molting begins with the head. First of all, bright red summer hair breaks through at the front end of her muzzle, around her eyes, then on her front and hind legs, and lastly on her sides and back. The whole process of "dressing up" lasts 50-60 days. In the fox, signs of spring molting appear in March. Her coat loses its luster and begins to thin out gradually. The first signs of molting can be seen on the shoulders, then on the sides, and the back of the fox's body remains covered with winter fur until July.
Almost all animals shed. But the inhabitants of the continental climate, characterized by sharp seasonal changes in temperature, the change of cold winters and hot summers, molt quickly, but the inhabitants of the tropics and semi-aquatic animals (giraffe, muskrat, nutria, sea otter) - gradually. Most mammals living in temperate latitudes molt twice a year - in spring and autumn, but some animals (seals, marmots, ground squirrels, jerboas) - once.
Shedding is a natural process in which old and dead cells and tissues are replaced by newer ones. So, the fact that our animals shed is an indicator of their health. But if the shedding becomes irregular and is accompanied by various painful phenomena (as it sometimes happens in domestic cats and dogs), this can really be a cause for concern.
Now comes the turn of the second question: why do we not comb out our molting animals? Well, firstly, this is not entirely true: we still help pets to get rid of winter wool. For example, a yak living in the Children's Zoo is regularly combed out. But only with predators it will not work out - after all, the zoo is not a circus, here not all animals are allowed to touch themselves. But they, too, are not "left to the mercy of fate." Take a closer look: in some enclosures (for example, in musk oxen) you will notice old Christmas trees or special structures made of different materials - the so-called "combs". Animals itch about them regularly and with obvious pleasure. And their winter wool does not go to waste - its employees then collect and give it to birds and small animals, which use it to build nests. Such nests can be seen in the "Night World".
Well, in conclusion, let's see who actively molts in the zoo in spring, who should be paid special attention to, who is interesting to watch. Molting is easy to spot in guancos, domestic llamas and vicuñas, foxes and hares, gray and red wolves, raccoons and raccoon dogs, musk oxen, snow goats and camels. Maybe you yourself will add someone to this long list?
M.Tarkhanova

The quality of the fur directly depends on the season. IN winter time animals have thick and fluffy fur, which protects the animal from the adverse effects of frost. In summer, the hairline becomes coarser, low and sparse. In the people, the time when animals change their hairline is called molting.

At
each type of animal molting occurs in its own way, depending on their image
life. For example, some fur-bearing animals do not hibernate, but are active
way of life, moreover, throughout the year. These animals usually
there are two molts - one in spring, and the second with the onset of autumn.

Winter
thick fur falls out with the onset of spring, a rare summer fur begins to appear
fur, so the spring molt is more noticeable. The spring molt is faster than the autumn molt. Autumn molt in some
animals is almost unnoticeable. This is due to the fact that rare
summer fur falls out rather slowly. Winter fur is tall and thick, and this is what he
different from summer fur. Winter fur has more down and covering hair, there are
also color differences.

At
some fur animals have winter fur
a lighter color than summer fur, and in some animals the hairline
winter and summer fur is very different in color. At the squirrel, summer fur
bright red or dark brown (sometimes even black) color, and with
with the onset of winter, the fur becomes gray,
dark gray or bluish-gray color, but on the womb the color does not change,
stays white. The color of the fur also changes with the seasons in the white fox, ermine,
hare and weasel. Their winter fur is clean white color and summer fur
takes on a brownish color.

Winter
the fur of a brown hare has partial lightening, while in northern animals the fur turns whiter,
while in the southern animals, the lightening of the fur is observed weaker. in the Vologda
regions, the fur of hare hares for the winter almost all turns white, and among the hares of Transcaucasia
the fur remains brown. Because of the molt
in some fur-bearing animals, the density and height of the hairline varies. coverts
hair and down in winter are longer, the first 1.5 times, the second 2 times.

At
different types of fur density varies unequally. Fur in its density in aquatic
animals in different seasons is almost the same. But land animals have fur
on the ridge in winter it is 2 times thicker than in summer. Summer fur, in
the difference from the winter is coarser, it all depends on the thickness, length, ratio
the amount of down and covering hair. In winter, there are more downy hairs than covering ones.
about 2.5 times.

spring
molting in some fur-bearing animals begins with fading of the hairline,
which becomes more brittle and dry. Hair roots during this period are
shallow from the surface of the skin, when the connection of the hair roots with the skin becomes
weaker, they fall out. First of all, covering hair falls out, exposing fluff,
which after a while falls off and begins to fall out in shreds. New hairline
the cover begins to grow when there is a rapid destruction of the fur. At first
covering hair grows, then fluff grows. Mezdra in the formation of new hair
darkens and thickens.

Cause
the appearance of dark spots on the mezra is a coloring matter - a pigment that
appears in the bulb of the hair and which shines through the skin. However, the core
darkens only when the dyed hair grows. If white fur grows
colors, the core does not darken. Over time, the mezdra becomes thinner and lighter,
place with fully formed hair
takes on its normal color and thickness. Mezdra skins in winter and summer
clean and thin.

spring
molting in many fur-bearing animals that do not hibernate begins
on the front legs and head, then spreading to the neck, hind legs and
shoulder blades. Then the molt begins on the front of the ridge, on the sides and hips,
then the belly and the back of the ridge molt, the tail and rump molt at the last
queue. In the spring, the quality of the skin decreases, as a result of which its
value.

In
during the autumn molt, summer fur begins to be replaced by winter fur. Begins
change of hairline at this time of the year with the fact that in the thickness of the skin are formed
first covering hair, then fluff. By this time, the skin thickens significantly,
and the destruction of the summer fur is practically not noticeable. Moreover, the skin in places
where new dark-colored hair grows, begins to turn blue.

Leather
during the undergrowth of white hair during the autumn molt thickens. undergrowth
new winter hairline grows to the length of the old one, thereby forming
mixed fur. This becomes especially
noticeable in those animals that have summer dark hair against the background of growing white
winter hair is clearly visible. After a while, summer hair falls out, and winter hair
continues to grow to its normal length. Mezdra by this time becomes
clean and thin.

autumn
molting begins from those places where spring molting ends, that is, from
tail and rump, then the back of the ridge sheds and the belly, then the thighs and sides,
and lastly the front of the ridge.

Height
winter hair in some fur-bearing animals starts from the tail, then moves to
paws and head. The same sequence is observed during the fall of the summer
hair. The quality of the skin after the autumn molt is gradually improving, along with
this increases the cost of the skin.

Which animals change coat color in winter? You will find the answer to this question in this article.

Which animal changes its coat in winter?

With the onset of cold weather, most animals change their coat, it becomes thicker and warmer. When the harsh winter comes, they dress even warmer and thicker fur.

Here are some animals that change their coat:

Hare in summer it was gray, and by the end of autumn it becomes white.
Squirrel he changes his summer red coat for a winter gray one.
At petting in winter, the coat becomes completely white
White color arctic fox in winter - pure white, and in summer - dirty brown. The color of the blue fox is dark in winter (from sandy to dark gray with a bluish tinge). On the mainland, blue foxes are quite rare, but on the islands, on the contrary, often. Arctic foxes change their coat twice a year: in spring (March-April) and autumn (September-December). Between January and February, the polar fox has the best fur. . In spring and autumn, when the molting process takes place, the animals acquire a spotted coloration, which also camouflages them well in a motley landscape.
Ermine pure white in winter, two-colored in summer - brownish-red upperparts, yellowish-white underparts. Winter color is typical for areas where at least 40 days a year there is snow. The tip of the tail is black throughout the year.

Why do animals change their coat color for the winter? Animals change the color of their coat for the winter for their own safety, in order to protect themselves from various predators that go hunting to catch some kind of prey. So, for example, hares change their gray hair to white in order to appear invisible in the snow, squirrels change to gray, in such a dress it will be difficult to notice it among the bare gray branches of the trees on which it lives.

What is a molt

Moulting is a natural process during which the outer cover of the animal changes. In each class of tetrapods, this process has a certain character. So, reptiles change the top layer of the skin, the epidermis. Mammals and birds change their skin (feathers, fur, wool). Insects are capable of shedding body parts during molting.

Mammals and birds are characterized by seasonal molting. They change plumage and fur from warmer to lighter, and vice versa. Along with the density of the cover, its color may also change.

Pets that can shed

Pets subject to shedding include:

(canines);
birds (etc.);
lizards;
amphibian();

Did you know? The Latin name for all four-legged animals, Tetrapoda, comes from the fusion of two ancient Greek words: τετράς, which means« four» , and πούς -« leg» .