{"id":2191259,"date":"2026-06-04T06:00:09","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T05:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/?p=2191259"},"modified":"2026-06-03T19:03:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T18:03:56","slug":"its-four-feet-long-weighs-29kg-and-has-a-phenomenal-100-160000-hairs-per-cm%c2%b2-sporting-more-than-a-billion-hairs-in-total","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/focusingonwildlife.com\/news\/its-four-feet-long-weighs-29kg-and-has-a-phenomenal-100-160000-hairs-per-cm%c2%b2-sporting-more-than-a-billion-hairs-in-total\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s four feet long, weighs 29kg and has a phenomenal 100-160,000 hairs per cm\u00b2, sporting more than a billion hairs in total"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The title of the hairiest animal goes to the sea otter, whose luxurious fur, according to a 2010 study, comprises a phenomenal 100- 160,000 hairs per square centimetre (an adult probably sports more than a billion hairs in total).<\/p>\n

Sea otters lack insulating blubber, so dense water-repellent fur is an important asset in the chilly waters of the North Pacific.<\/p>\n

And they are meticulous about keeping it in good order, washing and cleaning it regularly.<\/p>\n

Sadly these qualities meant their fur was also attractive to humans and they were hunted near to extinction by the early 20th century with only 1,000 to 2,000 animals remaining.<\/p>\n

Today the IUCN list the species as Endangered.<\/p>\n

Sea otters are around four feet long and weigh up to 29kg.<\/p>\n

They can live up to 23 years old old and feed on\u00a0sea urchins, crabs, squid, octopuses and fish.<\/p>\n

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