What is moulting? Explain with an example?

Hint: Moulting is an important process in which the old covering, the feather is shed off and is replaced by new one. It happens at a specific time or a definite part of the year. The process of moulting is regulated by hormones. It takes place in both in, vertebrates and invertebrates. The purpose of moulting is it allows animals to grow bigger and enter the next stages of life cycle.

Complete answer:
To answer this question, we must know about the process of moulting and how it takes place.
Moulting is the process of shedding or casting off of the outer covering of the body like exoskeleton, skin, feather and forming a new one. This shedding is seen in birds, reptiles, arthropods etc. It takes place at a specific time of the year. In the case of insects, when the insect becomes too big for the exoskeleton, it sheds its skin. This allows the insects to enter the next stage of their life cycle.

Let us discuss the process of moulting with the example of the snake.
In the case of a snake, it moults its skin regularly when its skin is grown. It rubs its skin against the rough surfaces so that the old skin comes out and the new one is exposed to the surrounding.
In the case of birds, the feathers are shed off at least once or twice a year.

Note: Moulting is mainly the shedding of the epidermis. In the case of invertebrates, this shedding is known as ecdysis. Ecdysis in insects is controlled by the hormone ecdysone. The new exoskeleton is soft and hardens after some time.