Goosebumps (Piloerection)

Natural Habitat

Found on the skin of mammals, including humans

Diet & Feeding

Not applicable (physiological response)

Behavior Patterns

Goosebumps are a temporary physiological response to cold, fear, or strong emotions. They occur when tiny muscles at the base of hair follicles contract, causing the hairs to stand upright and creating small bumps on the skin. This reflex is vestigial in humans but was historically useful for trapping a layer of insulating air or making an animal appear larger to predators.

Risks & Benefits

Benefits: A vestigial reflex that once helped ancestors regulate body temperature or appear larger. Risks: No direct risks; however, persistent or unusual goosebumps (e.g., occurring without a clear trigger) could rarely be a symptom of underlying medical conditions like piloerection associated with certain neurological disorders or drug withdrawal.

Identified on: 10/7/2025