Question

The sensory hairs located on the face of a rat are known as:
A. Vibrissae
B. Nictating Membrane
C. Eyelids
D. None of the above

Answer 1

Hint: The macrovibrissae of many rodents and some other species can move back and forth at high-speed, hence explaining the term "vibrissa" which derives from the Latin "vibrio" meaning to vibrate.

Complete answer: Rat is a mammal and the mammals have a characteristic feature of the presence of body hairs. In the rat, the body hairs have been evolved to adapt to a specialized function of sense. The sensory hairs present on the face of a rat are as Whiskers or Vibrissae.
Vibrissae are long mammalian hair with the representation in the somatosensory cortex of the brain.

So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Additional Information: These hairs are thick and stiffer as compared to the normal hairs that are present on the body surface of the rat. Vibrissae grow from the special hair follicle that consists of a sinus that is a capsule of blood and has a well diffused and developed sensory network.

Note: Vibrissae can grow in different locations in different mammals but as mentioned it is a highly conserved trait in the mammals especially the animals living on the land.
There can be some difference in the vibrissae from species to species and sometimes even from individual to individual of the same species also.