Material properties of the skin of the Kenyan sand boa Gongylophis colubrinus (Squamata, Boidae).

Journal of Comparative Physiology. A, Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology
Marie-Christin G KleinStanislav N Gorb

Abstract

On the basis of structural data, it has been previously assumed that the integument of snakes consists of a hard, robust, inflexible outer surface (Oberhäutchen and beta-layer) and soft, flexible inner layers (alpha-layers). The aim of this study was to compare material properties of the outer and inner scale layers of the exuvium of Gongylophis colubrinus, to relate the structure of the snake integument to its mechanical properties. The nanoindentation experiments have demonstrated that the outer scale layers are harder, and have a higher effective elastic modulus than the inner scale layers. The results obtained provide strong evidence about the presence of a gradient in the material properties of the snake integument. The possible functional significance of this gradient is discussed here as a feature minimizing damage to the integument during sliding locomotion on an abrasive surface, such as sand.

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Citations

Aug 17, 2012·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Marie-Christin G Klein, Stanislav N Gorb
Feb 15, 2016·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Marie-Christin G Klein, Stanislav N Gorb
Apr 16, 2013·Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials·Hisham A Abdel-Aal
Feb 6, 2014·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Matthew Close, David Cundall
Aug 30, 2014·Zoology : Analysis of Complex Systems, ZACS·Marie-Christin G Klein, Stanislav N Gorb
Feb 9, 2013·Scientific Reports·Alexander Filippov, Stanislav N Gorb
Jul 6, 2014·Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology·Stanislav N Gorb, Alexander E Filippov
Nov 15, 2018·Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology·Johannes SchneiderChristian Greiner
Aug 7, 2021·IScience·Benjamin S LazarusMarc A Meyers
Dec 12, 2020·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Mengyuan WangYifu Ding

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