Besides brushes, bristles can be found naturally on various animals and some other organisms:
- Animals such as pigs have bristles instead of fur; certain pig breeds like the Tamworth pig have dense bristles to protect against sunburn
- Animals named for their bristles include bristlebirds, the bristle-thighed curlew, the bristle-spined porcupine, and the Trinity bristle snail
- Bristles also serve a functional role in earthworms, anchoring them to soil to aid movement
In addition to natural bristles on animals, bristles are also used in tools other than traditional brushes, such as brooms and sweepers, and in various types of paintbrushes made from natural or synthetic fibers
. Thus, bristles are not exclusive to brushes but are present in nature on animals and worms, and in other cleaning and painting tools beyond just brushes.
