What is moulting? Explain with an example?

Molting, also spelled as "moulting," is a natural biological process that many animals undergo in which they shed their outer layer of skin, feathers, fur, or exoskeleton. This process is essential for growth, repair, and adaptation to changing environmental conditions. Molting allows animals to replace old or damaged skin, feathers, or exoskeleton with new ones.

Example with birds:

Birds are a common example of animals that molt. Let's take the example of a robin, a small songbird. During the molting process, a robin will shed its old and worn-out feathers and grow new ones. This typically happens after the breeding season and before the onset of winter.

Here's how the molting process occurs in a robin:

Initiation: After the breeding season, as daylight hours shorten and environmental cues change, the robin's body starts to produce hormones that trigger the molting process.

Feather Loss: The old feathers start to loosen and fall out. This can happen gradually, so the bird doesn't lose all its feathers at once. Different types of feathers (flight feathers, contour feathers, etc.) might be shed at different times.

New Feather Growth: As the old feathers are shed, new feathers begin to grow from specialized structures called feather follicles embedded in the bird's skin. These new feathers are often encased in protective sheaths as they initially emerge.

Feather Formation: Inside these protective sheaths, the new feathers develop and mature. Blood vessels supply nutrients to the growing feathers, ensuring they develop properly.

Sheath Removal: Once the new feathers are fully developed, the robin will preen itself. Preening involves the bird using its beak to remove the protective sheaths, allowing the new feathers to unfurl and take on their proper shape.

Completion: The robin will continue to groom itself, aligning and arranging its new feathers. Eventually, the molting process is complete, and the bird's appearance is restored, often with more vibrant and effective feathers.

Molting is crucial for birds because it helps them maintain their ability to fly, stay warm, and exhibit attractive plumage for mating displays. It's important to note that molting can be physically demanding for animals, and during this time, they might be more vulnerable to predators due to reduced mobility or camouflage. However, once the molting process is finished, animals are equipped with renewed and functional skin, feathers, fur, or exoskeletons that enhance their overall survival and well-being.