Triumph of the Titans

Rogers, Kristina A. Curry; D’Emic, Michael D.

doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0512-48

Cited by 1 publication

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“…Table 1 9, 10, 19, 28–36 shows representative animals and their different types and sizes of scales and osteoderms as well as their primary functions. The primary function of scales and osteoderm is to provide protection.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Natural Flexible Dermal Armor

et al. 2012

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Fish, reptiles, and mammals can possess flexible dermal armor for protection. Here we seek to find the means by which Nature derives its protection by examining the scales from several fish (Atractosteus spatula, Arapaima gigas, Polypterus senegalus, Morone saxatilis, Cyprinius carpio), and osteoderms from armadillos, alligators, and leatherback turtles. Dermal armor has clearly been developed by convergent evolution in these different species. In general, it has a hierarchical structure with collagen fibers joining more rigid units (scales or osteoderms), thereby increasing flexibility without significantly sacrificing strength, in contrast to rigid monolithic mineral composites. These dermal structures are also multifunctional, with hydrodynamic drag (in fish), coloration for camouflage or intraspecies recognition, temperature and fluid regulation being other important functions. The understanding of such flexible dermal armor is important as it may provide a basis for new synthetic, yet bioinspired, armor materials.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seidel10 proposed that the bony plates of the stegosaurus could have served as heat absorbers like alligator osteoderms. In the Rapetosaurus , a dinosaur, calcium storage was an important additional function 33…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%