When we think about organs, we often mean the heart or stomach, but the skin is the largest and most complex organ in our bodies. Across the animal kingdom, skin is incredibly versatile. It grows hair, feathers, or scales, and can provide camouflage, change colour, stretch, or even shed. While human skin is watertight, many animals rely on porous skin to breathe. Amphibians, like bullfrogs, are the master at this, doing 80% of their breathing through their skin, though the permeability leaves them vulnerable to toxins.
Skin is also packed with nerve receptors that send sensations to the brain, warning us of danger, pain, irritation, and temperature changes. Some animals, such as racoons, have super senses due to long hairs or hypersensitive skin. From the largest mammal to the smallest invertebrate, skin is a wonder of nature.
