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On humans, wrinkles are a sign of age and wisdom. They appear as we grow older, reminding us of past smiles, worries and experiences. But, unlike humans, some animals have folds and small creases in their skin from a young age. Why, you ask? Today, we answer this question with help from National Geographic, whose reporter turned to three wrinkly animals—the elephant, the naked mole rat and the Chinese shar-pei—for an explanation.
From cooling mechanisms to selective breeding, each animal’s wrinkles serve a very different purpose or, in the case of the shar-pei, no purpose at all!
An elephant doesn’t use sweat glands for regulating body temperature, so its baggy skin must keep it cool.
“The elephant's wrinkled skin traps moisture in the hollows, which means it takes longer for the moisture to evaporate, thus keeping the elephant cooler for longer," Kathleen Garrigan, spokesperson for the African Wildlife Foundation, told National Geographic.
Similar to an elephant, all burrowing rodents also have loose and wrinkled skin. This can easily be seen in the naked mole rat, which doesn’t have a fur coat. The difference, however, in the naked mole rat’s skin is that it sags to make moving around underground easier.
Finally, in the Chinese shar-pei, we see a third reason some animals have wrinkles. According to National Geographic, in 2008, researchers at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, discovered a genetic mutation from selective breeding. The dog’s wrinkles are the result of a variation in the HAS2 gene, which causes an increase in the production of hyaluronic acid or the compound affecting the wrinkling of the skin.
Each animal may have a different reason for folded and creased skin, but one thing's for sure—they all wear their wrinkles proudly!
Looking for more Never Stop Asking "Why?" questions? Catch up on all of the past "Whys" on the blog!
