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Infrared antenna-like structures in mammalian fur.

ABSTRACT: Many small animals, including shrews, most rodents and some marsupials, have fur composed of at least four types of hair, all with distinctive and complex anatomy. A ubiquitous and unexplained feature is periodic, internal banding with spacing in the 6-12 µm range that hints at an underlying infrared function. One bristle-like form, called guard hair, has the correct shape and internal periodic patterns to function as an infrared antenna. Optical analysis of guard hair from a wide range of species shows precise tuning to the optimum wavelength for thermal imaging. For heavily predated, nocturnal animals the ability to sense local infrared sources has a clear survival advantage. The tuned antennae, spectral filters and waveguides present in guard hair, all operating at a scale similar to the infrared wavelength, could be a rich source of bio-inspiration in the field of photonics. The tools developed in this work may enable us to understand the other hair types and their evolution.

SUBMITTER: Baker IM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8652267 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Infrared antenna-like structures in mammalian fur.

Baker Ian M IM

Royal Society open science 20211208 12

Many small animals, including shrews, most rodents and some marsupials, have fur composed of at least four types of hair, all with distinctive and complex anatomy. A ubiquitous and unexplained feature is periodic, internal banding with spacing in the 6-12 µm range that hints at an underlying infrared function. One bristle-like form, called guard hair, has the correct shape and internal periodic patterns to function as an infrared antenna. Optical analysis of guard hair from a wide range of speci ...[more]

PMID: 34909212

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Dataset Information

Infrared antenna-like structures in mammalian fur.

Publications

Infrared antenna-like structures in mammalian fur.

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