Woolly Mammoth Hair Fossil

Add a small bundle of woolly mammoth hair, dating to about 20,000 years ago, to your fossil collection. Comes in an acrylic display capsule. Woolly mammoth hair, often referred to as fur, was a key adaptation for survival in the frigid environments of the Pleistocene epoch. This dense, multi-layered coat consisted of three distinct types of hair: a long, coarse outer layer that provided protection against wind and snow; a shorter, insulating underlayer for warmth; and fine, wool-like strands that added an additional barrier to the cold. The hair could grow up to three feet in length, with variations in color ranging from light blonde to reddish-brown and even black, depending on the individual and its environmental conditions. Rich in keratin, the structure of mammoth hair was similar to that of modern elephants, though much thicker and more suited for cold climates. This remarkable coat worked in tandem with a layer of subcutaneous fat to ensure these Ice Age giants could endure