In biology, moulting or molting (/ˈmoʊltɪŋ/; see spelling differences), also known as sloughing, shedding, or for some species, ecdysis, is the manner in which an animal routinely casts off a part of its body (often, but not always, an outer layer or covering), either at specific times of the year, or at specific points in its life cycle.
Moulting can involve shedding the epidermis (skin), pelage (hair, feathers, fur, wool), or other external layer. In some species, other body parts may be shed, for example, wings in some insectsor the entire exoskeleton in arthropods.
- Written by: Wikipedia