ANIMAL BEARDS THAT SHINE

NYALA

One of the most beautiful animals on the savanna,

the nyala is an antelope with a thick neck-beard

that looks like it has given up on shaving entirely.

CATFISH

The stereotypical fish-with-facial-hair, the catfish has

whiskers known as barbells which can grow around its

nose, chin and mouth. Trendy in nature, the barbells

are sensory organs the fish uses to find food.

RED RIVER HOG

Spread out across western and central Africa, the

red river hog is a wild pig known for its red fur,

hairy ears and sideburns.

IBERIAN LYNX

Iberian lynxes are easily recognizable by their beards which

extend out in an upside-down arc. Successful conservation

efforts have so far boosted the numbers of this lynx,

the most endangered cat species in the world.

COTTON-TOP TAMARIN

The cotton-top tamarin has a pretty distinguishable short

moustache, but it’s much better known for its head hair

which makes it look like Dustin Hoffman. One of the rarest

primates in the world – only 6,000 are still alive – we hope

conservation efforts take off to protect this

magnificent creature.

GRIFFON BRUXELLOIS

Almost wiped out after the Second World War (and completely

extinct in their native Belgium), the toy dog Griffon Bruxellois

has one of most impressive scraggly beards on man’s best friend.

ARABIAN TAHR

Related to sheep, the Arabian tahr is the smallest species

of tahr but it boasts the most impressive tahr beard.

This animal’s mutton chops can rival those on Mr. Gibbs,

Jack Sparrow’s right hand pirate. (To see a tahr with an

impressive beard, search for the Himalayan tahr,

which looks like a lion with a small head.)

LION

No list of impressive animal beards would be complete

without the bearded archetype: the lion. Only males

(generally) sport the beautiful mane which can change

based on temperature and testosterone production.

It’s mostly accepted that a healthier lion has a

darker and fuller mane.