Movember's wild side: 8 animals with a better moustache than yours

Movember's wild side: 8 animals with a better moustache than yours

Check out these brilliantly bristly animals that use their moustaches and beards for all manner of tasks, from foraging for food on dark ocean floors to spreading scent to attract mates

Published: November 20, 2024 at 3:04 pm

Unlike in the human world, where research has proved that facial hair isn't hugely biologically useful, animals in the wild use their facial hair in fan-tashce-tic ways to help their survival.

Check out this round-up of striking-looking species that put their facial fluff to good use. No beard oil needed.

Walrus

Close up on the face of a walrus in the water
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This huge marine mammal has such impressive facial hair that people have actually named a style of moustache after it: The 'walrus moustache' is a thick, bushy one that drops over the mouth at both sides, originally popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

And while US president Theodore Roosevelt was said to have grown his to hide his prominent teeth, the walrus' conspicuous whiskers (or vibrissae) have a much more practical purpose. While the skin of a walrus is thick and not particularly sensitive, these hairs, between about 400 to 700, are supplied with blood and nerves can and help them seek out their favourite foods on the ocean floor.

Less striking, but still there are sea lion and seal whiskers, which are so sensitive they can detect the faint trail of disturbance left behind in the water by prey swimming minutes before them.

Emperor tamarin

A emperor tamarin perched on a log
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This well-groomed primate may have the resemblance of wise a Chinese emperor, but is actually likely to be found in the southwestern Amazon basin.

The long white moustache complements the grizzled fur on the otherwise dark-coloured body with red-coloured tail. It also has white hairs on its chin.

Don't confuse the emperor tamarin with the mustached tamarin, which has a much smaller moustache that sweeps upwards. Some researchers suggest that the different types of facial hair help different types of tamarins easily recognise their own.

Bearded pig

Close up of a bearded pig
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This bristly fellow has coarse bristly hairs around its snout, which in some cases can be grey and grow long - think Einstein's on steroids.

Characterised by its reasonably slim torso and long head compared to other pigs, it can be found in southeast Asia.

It forages for fruit, roots, fungi, nuts, vegetation, earthworms and rotting wood, and during the dry seasons in Borneo, when food is more scarce, will take itself to the beach to truffle for crabs.

Orangutan

Close up on the face of a male orangutan
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As well as having orange-hued hair that coves its body, male orangutans have similar hair around the muzzle, and generally for them, the more of it, the better.

Similarly to their flanges (the pads around the side of their faces that develop with testosterone), the beards display dominance to other males, help attract females during mating seasons, and help amplify their calls.

Female adult Sumatran orangutans can also have beards.

Ibex

An ibex with large horns and a beard
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Among humans, whether or not you find facial hair attractive is a subjective matter. However, in the world of the ibex, a beard really does help you attract a mate.

This mammal from the wild goat family, which can be found in mountainous areas of Europe, north-central Asia and northern Africa, uses its long, pointed beard for scent marking.

The greater the marked area, the more likely to draw in and excite females during rutting season, when it will use its large horns to impress them further.

The Siberian ibex tends to have larger horns and a longer beard than other species.

Jumping spider

Close up of a jumping spider
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The miniscule hairs on these spiders make them look almost strokable. However, don't as the hairs on the legs and palps are extremely sensitive, picking up tiny vibrations in the air around them as they hunt for prey.

Not only that, some of the hairs are scent-sensitive, detecting odor molecules. Spiders can wave their legs and pals in the air to try and read the molecules easier.

Markhor

Close up of a markhor
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The female markhor can have a small beard, while the male has a larger one, sometimes part of a long, heavy fringe on its throat and chest.

Another large mammal from the wild goat family, the markhor is found in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and easily identified by its huge, corkscrew horns.

All subspecies are considered endangered or critically endangered due to loss of habitat and overhunting for meat and trophies.

Bearded dragon

A bearded dragon with one arm lifted
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So, it's not actually hair that sits around a bearded dragon's neck, but a host of tiny spiny scales that helps both the male and female reptiles to communicate.

They inflate their beards when they feel threatened, to make them appear bigger, sometimes accompanying the motion with a hissing sound.

When trying to attract a mate a male bearded dragon will puff up and wave its arms and pound its feet on the ground at the same time.

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