Hackles

Hackles are the erectile plumage or hair in the neck area of some birds and mammals.

Yellow hackles on the neck area of a rooster

In birds, the hackle is the group of feathers found along the back and side of the neck.[1] The hackles of some types of chicken, particularly roosters, are long, fine, and often brightly coloured.[2] These hackles may be used in fly fishing as lures.[2]

Drawing of a dog with raised hackles

In mammals, the hackles are the hairs of the neck and back which become erect when the animal is fearful, as part of the fight-or-flight response,[3] or to show dominance over subordinate animals. Raising the hackles causes the animal to appear larger,[4] and acts as a visual warning to other animals.[5] Raised hackles are used by grey wolves as a dominance behavior,[6] by moose preparing to attack,[7] and by cats and striped hyena which are fearful or threatened.[3][8] The process by which the hair is raised is called piloerection.[9] The contraction of the arrector pili muscle associated with each hair follicle causes the hair to become erect.[3]

References

  1. Damerow, Gail (2012). The Chicken Encyclopedia: An Illustrated Reference. Storey Publishing. p. 137. ISBN 9781603427760.
  2. Damerow, Gail (2010). "Chapter 1: Choosing a breed". Guide to Raising. Storey Publishing. p. 20. ISBN 9781603424691.
  3. Hudson, Lola; Hamilton, William (2017). "Arrector pili muscles". Atlas of Feline Anatomy For Veterinarians. CRC Press. ISBN 9781351465311.
  4. Dallas, Sue; Ackerman, Nicola (2016). "Chapter 6. Canine and feline anatomy and physiology". In Ackerman, Nicola; Aspinall, Victoria (eds.). Aspinall's Complete Textbook of Veterinary Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. p. 111. ISBN 9780702066092.
  5. Svartberg, Kenth; Forkman, Björn (October 20, 2002). "Personality traits in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)" (PDF). Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 79 (2): 133–155. doi:10.1016/s0168-1591(02)00121-1.
  6. James Serpell, ed. (1999). The domestic dog : its evolution, behaviour, and interactions with people. pencil drawings by Priscilla Barrett (Repr. ed.). Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press. p. 118. ISBN 9780521425377.
  7. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (2018-10-15), Moose Attacks Are Increasing, retrieved 2018-10-24
  8. Estes, Richard D. (1999). The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates. Chelsea Green Publishing. p. 286. ISBN 9781603581851.
  9. Taibo, Angela (2014). "Chapter 11: The integumentary system". Veterinary Medical Terminology: Guide and Workbook. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781118774670.
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