Role of stag beetle jaw bending and torsion in grip on rivals

Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
Jana GoyensPeter Aerts

Abstract

In aggressive battles, the extremely large male stag beetle jaws have to withstand strongly elevated bite forces. We found several adaptations of the male Cyclommatus metallifer jaw morphology for enhanced robustness that conspecific females lack. As a result, males improve their grip on opponents and they maintain their safety factor (5.2-7.2) at the same level as that of females (6.8), despite their strongly elevated bite muscle force (3.9 times stronger). Males have a higher second moment of area and torsion constant than females, owing to an enhanced cross-sectional area and shape. These parameters also increase faster with increasing bending moment towards the jaw base in males than in females. Male jaws are more bending resistant against the bite reaction force than against perpendicular forces (which remain lower in battles). Because of the triangular cross section of the male jaw base, it twists more easily than it bends. This torsional flexibility creates a safety system against overload that, at the same time, secures a firm grip on rivals. We found no structural mechanical function of the large teeth halfway along the male jaws. Therefore, it appears that the main purpose of these teeth is a further improvement of gr...Continue Reading

Associated Datasets

References

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Mar 29, 2014·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Jana GoyensPeter Aerts
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Oct 10, 2014·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·J GoyensJ Dirckx
Apr 17, 2015·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Jana GoyensPeter Aerts
Jul 3, 2015·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·Jana GoyensPeter Aerts
Sep 10, 2015·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Maria R MillsBrook O Swanson

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Jul 21, 2016·The Journal of Experimental Biology·Jana GoyensPeter Aerts

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