By Larry Halverson

Friends of Kootenay

They are called vibrissae or more commonly known as whiskers. But the whiskers on this Red Squirrel are different from what men grow on their chin.

These long squirrel whiskers are more rigid, embed deeply into the skin and at the base of each vibrissa is a high concentration of touch sensitive neurons. These tactile sensors help them navigate around obstacles in tight spaces, as seen in this great three-minute video of a Gray Squirrel being chased by a Red-tailed Hawk :  https://www.youtube.com/v/XBEyCr5AoIs

Lead image: Red Squirrel with long vibrissae by Larry Halverson

Article Share