The process by which animals shed their outer covering, such as skin, feathers, fur, or exoskeleton, to allow for growth or seasonal adaptation. This natural process occurs regularly in many species throughout their lives.
From Middle English 'mouten' derived from Latin 'mutare' meaning to change. The term originally applied to birds shedding feathers but expanded to include all animals that shed external coverings by the 1600s.
Molting is like nature's ultimate makeover, allowing animals to literally outgrow themselves! Some animals, like tarantulas, become completely vulnerable during molting and must hide for days while their new exoskeleton hardens, while others like snakes leave behind perfect replicas of themselves.
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