This document discusses the external structures and functions of fur, feathers, and scales in animals. Fur helps keep animals warm and can provide camouflage through color. Feathers help birds maintain body temperature and enable flight. Scales provide a rough protective covering, and help with movement, defense, camouflage, and insulation for animals with scales. Examples are given of animals with each type of external structure.

1. FUR, FEATHERS,
AND SCALES
E X T E R N A L S T R U C T U R E S A N D T H E I R F U N C T I O N S
I N A N I M A L S # 2

2. FUR
• Fur helps keep animals warm.
• Fur color can offer camouflage.
(Pixabay, 2002) (Pixabay, 2002)
The white fur of
the fox would
help it hide in the
snow.

3. FEATHERS
• Feathers help birds maintain their body temperature.
• They can also help birds fly.
(Machchhar, 2000) (Meulen, 2009)
Even though they do not
fly, a penguin does have
feathers.

4. SCALES
• Scales are a rough covering that protects the body.
• They help with movement, defense, camouflage, and insulation.
(Pixabay, 2002) (Grisales, 2007)
Both this snake and
fish have scales on
their body.

5. REFERENCE
• Bobcat
– Pixabay. (2002). Gray Bobcat on Brown Trunk [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/animal-animal-photography-big-big-cat-
209032/
• Fox
– Pixabay. (2002). Snow Fox Near Brown Rock [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/animal-arctic-blur-canine-208976/
• Hawk
– Machchhar, N. (2000). Selective Photography of Flying Black Falcon [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/selective-
photography-of-flying-black-falcon-1056104/
• Penguin
– Meulen, J. (2009). Black and White Penguin Walking on Sand [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/black-and-white-penguin-
walking-on-sand-2078474/
• Snake
– Pixabay. (2002). White Tan Snake [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/snake-toxic-terrarium-63851/
• Fish
– Grisales, E. (2007). Brown, Silver, and Black Oscar Fish [Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-silver-and-black-oscar-fish-
2109800/