ulkokarvaton

Ulkokarvaton is a term used in Finnish-language discussions of speculative biology and in some works of fiction to describe a hypothetical organism characterized by the absence of external fur on the body surface. The name is formed from ulko, meaning outer, and karvaton, meaning hairless. The concept is not part of established zoological taxonomy and has no verified species in nature.

In worldbuilding and educational contexts, ulkokarvaton serves as a thought experiment illustrating how organisms might cope with environments where external insulation through fur is absent. Proposals for such a body plan typically assume alternative thermoregulation strategies, such as high metabolic heat production, thick dermal fat layers, or specialized skin adaptations. Some writers use the idea to explore limits of insulation, camouflage, and sensory systems, while scientists use it to discuss the importance of integumentary adaptations and the diversity of fur, scales, and skin across taxa. The term remains primarily a fictional or pedagogical concept rather than a description of real life.