Discover 10 Animals That Molt

Did you know there are quite a few animals that molt? Molting is the process by which animals shed their skin, fur, feathers, or exoskeleton. There are many mammals, reptiles, insects, and even birds that molt for a variety of reasons. Some of these creatures shed their exterior because they need room to grow. Others replace thick winter coats with more breathable summer attire. There are even animals that molt to better attract a mate — much like you might buy a new outfit for a first date! The reasons for molting are almost as varied as the types of creatures that do so. In this article, we’ll discover 10 animals that molt.

#10 Reticulated Python

Snakes are probably one of the animals that almost everyone is familiar with for molting or shedding their skin. However, the reticulated python (Malayopython reticulatus) is something special. This snake will continue to molt and grow until it reaches the maximum length dictated by its genetics. The longest specimen ever recorded was over 32 feet long.

Reticulated pythons are native to Southeast Asia and some islands of the Indo-Pacific region. They first molt as soon as they hatch. They will continue to shed their skin to repair injury or facilitate growth their entire lives. When healthy, reticulated pythons will shed their entire skin in one piece like other snakes.

#9 Red-Tailed Hawk

Birds are another common group of animals that molt. The red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) is found throughout North America. It earned its name from the bright red tail feathers that it sports as a part of its adult plumage. Those feathers are a direct result of a molting process.

Born with colors that are typically brown or white with brown blotches, these hawks molt in the spring of their first year. This is when they gain adult flight feathers and red tail feathers. Going forward, they continue to molt around breeding season which replenishes their distinct tail feathers. It also replaces any other feathers that have been lost or damaged over time.

#8 Leopard Gecko

The leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius) is native to the Middle East, India, and Nepal. It is a popular household pet. These lizards are docile and easy to breed, which has led to their popularity. They shed their skin because it does not expand as they grow, much like other reptiles and lizards. Fast-growing juvenile geckos can molt as often as once a week if they are experiencing a growth spurt. However, adult geckos do not follow a regular pattern of molting.

An interesting fact about the leopard gecko is that it consumes its shed skin during the molting process. It’s not known exactly why they do so. However, it is suspected that the geckos either require the additional nutrients, or they eat the skin to conceal their presence from possible predators.

#7 Burrowing Owl

Burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) are widespread in both North and South America and molt like almost all birds. They are ground-dwelling owls that feed primarily on small mammals. They have been studied across various parts of their range, and researchers learned that wild, migratory burrowing owls synchronize their annual molt with the end of the breeding season. Presumably, this is done to optimize the replacement of feathers that had been damaged by long periods in their grounded nests.

Their molting periods can be as short as several weeks or can extend to multiple months, depending on a variety of factors. What is consistent across all of these birds is that they will fully replace all of their feathers before their molt is complete.

#6 German Shepherd

Domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) also molt. This act is much more noticeable in breeds such as the German Shepherd, which are adapted to living in colder climates. Pronounced periods of shedding normally occur in the spring and autumn. The spring molt tends to be much more obvious, as the dog loses the heavy winter coat used to insulate them from the elements.

Shedding in the autumn is less pronounced in many dog breeds, as the summer coat is thinner. However, long-haired breeds like the German Shepherd still manage to shed an impressive amount of hair. The first several shedding cycles of a puppy’s life are also known to slightly alter the dog’s coloring.

#5 Elk

Elk can be found in North America, Asia, and Siberia. Like the domestic dog above, wild animals like elk (Cervus elaphus) also molt twice yearly. Also like dogs, the spring molt is much more obvious to the eye. The long, winter coat is completely shed and new hair regrows all over the elk’s body.

The fall molt occurs as the winter coat grows in over the much shorter summer coat. Elk don’t shed all of this fur without some measure of annoyance. It is extremely common to see these animals scratching or licking all parts of their body that they can reach to accelerate the loss of this fur.

#4 Mexican Red-Knee Tarantula

Arachnids are yet another group of animals that molt. Like some other creatures on this list, they need to do so to grow. Spiders like the Mexican red-knee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) are encased in a hard external framework called an exoskeleton. The exoskeleton gives the spider the structure and support that an internal skeleton gives to mammals. However, the exoskeleton is incapable of growing with the animal as our bones do.

As the name suggests, Mexican red-knee tarantulas are found in Mexico, but they are also frequently purchased as pets. Their striking appearance with banded legs and red knees is quite the sight, and they are docile enough to handle. Newly hatched spiderlings will molt every two weeks for up to four months, then not as frequently afterward. Males do not molt after they reach maturity at 4-5 years old. However, females continue to shed their exoskeleton infrequently, even after reaching maturity at 6-7 years old.

#3 American Lobster

The American lobster (Homarus americanus), also known as the Maine or Atlantic lobster, is yet another animal that molts. It is the largest species of lobster in the world. Lobsters continue to grow throughout their lives. As they also reside within an exoskeleton, they need to shed their shell to keep growing. Lobsters consume their molted exoskeleton to replace the calcium they need to harden their new shell. These crustaceans also possess the ability to regenerate damaged, infected, or lost claws, legs, and antennae.

Scientists believe some lobsters may live as long as 100 years. However, older lobsters eventually stop producing the chemical that allows their molting process to begin. Once that occurs, lobsters become prone to a host of bacterial and other infections of the shell that eventually become fatal. They can also run out of energy to molt, which will unfortunately result in death.

#2 African Dwarf Frog

Amphibians in general typically shed their skin, and frogs like the African dwarf frog (Hymenochirus boettgeri) are no different. Since these frogs actually breathe through their skin, molting allows them to maintain a moist, breathable barrier that is free from fungus, disease, and any potential parasites. A cloudy appearance of their skin is a sign of an oncoming molt.

The skin is normally shed in either one whole piece or several large pieces. Shedding in multiple small patches can be a sign of an infection. African dwarf frogs are similar to the leopard gecko in that they also frequently consume their skin after molting to replace nutrients lost in the process. These frogs vary in that some will eat during their 1-3 day long molting session, while others will fast.

#1 Scorpion

Our final animal that molts bears a close resemblance to a land-based lobster. However, it is actually more closely related to spiders. Scorpions are arachnids that are found in warm, dry locations throughout the world. They range in size from under 0.5 inches up to seven inches long.

Baby scorpions ride on the backs of their mothers after birth. They become entirely independent immediately following their first molt. At that point, they leave their mother and venture off into the world. Scorpions are nocturnal hunters that hide during the day and become the most active at night.