Surface structure and frictional properties of the skin of the Amazon tree boa <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corallus hortulanus</Emphasis> (Squamata,Boidae) |
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| Authors: | R A Berthé G Westhoff H Bleckmann S N Gorb |
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| Institution: | 1.Evolutionary Biomaterials Group, Department of Thin Films and Biological Systems,Max Planck Institute for Metals Research,Stuttgart,Germany;2.Institute of Zoology,University of Bonn,Bonn,Germany;3.Department of Zoology: Functional Morphology and Biomechanics,Zoological Institute of the University of Kiel,Kiel,Germany |
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| Abstract: | The legless locomotion of snakes requires specific adaptations of their ventral scales to maintain friction force in different
directions. The skin microornamentation of the snake Corallus hortulanus was studied by means of scanning electron microscopy and the friction properties of the skin were tested on substrates of
different roughness. Skin samples from various parts of the body (dorsal, lateral, ventral) were compared. Dorsal and lateral
scales showed similar, net-like microornamentation and similar friction coefficients. Average friction coefficients for dorsal
and lateral scales on the epoxy resin surfaces were 0.331 and 0.323, respectively. In contrast, ventral scales possess ridges
running parallel to the longitudinal body axis. They demonstrated a significantly lower friction coefficient compared to both
dorsal and lateral scales (0.191 on average). In addition, ventral scales showed frictional anisotropy comparing longitudinal
and perpendicular direction of the ridges. This study clearly demonstrates that different skin microstructure is responsible
for different frictional properties in different body regions. |
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| Keywords: | Snake skin Microornamentation Friction Biological materials Biotribology |
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