Scaling of claw sharpness: mechanical constraints reduce attachment performance in larger insects.

ABSTRACT: Claws are the most widespread attachment devices in animals, but comparatively little is known about the mechanics of claw attachment. A key morphological parameter in determining attachment ability is claw sharpness; however, there is a conflict between sharpness and fracture resistance. Sharper claws can interlock on more surfaces but are more likely to break. Body size interacts with this conflict such that larger animals should have much blunter claws and consequently poorer attachment ability than smaller animals. This expected size-induced reduction in attachment performance has not previously been investigated, and it is unclear how animals deal with this effect, and whether it indeed exists. We explored the scaling of claw sharpness with body size using four insect species (Naup

SUBMITTER: Pattrick JG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6811360 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature