Question

Write the examples of animal fibre.

Answer 1

Hint: The animal fibres are naturally fibres obtained from different animals. The fibres are made up of different proteins and each fibre is different for each animal. Infact the fibres vary from species to species.

Complete Solution :
The typical examples of animal fibres are:
1) Silk: This fibre is derived from the cocoon of the silkworm which eats mulberry leaves.
2 Cashmere - It is derived from the fur of Cashmere Goat
3) Shearling - It is derived from the fur as well as skin of Shearling sheep.
4) Santosh - It is obtained from the fur of Tibetan Antelope
5) Persian wool - It Is obtained from the fur of Karakul lambs and is very expensive.

These all fibres are made up of different proteins which are
a) Collagen - this protein is the common protein in connective tissue of mammals.
b) Keratin - this protein is usually found in hairs of mammals and belongs to the class of scleroproteins.
c) Fibroin - this protein is not that common as it is only found in the larvae of the Bombyx mori silkworm.

Note: The most common sources where the animal fibres are usually obtained from -
1) Hair of mammals or fur is a great source of animal fibre such as goats, sheep, horses, etc.
2) Feather of birds are also another source of animal fibre.
3) Silk fibres are fibres which are obtained from the cocoon of many insects.