Tree frog attachment: mechanisms, challenges, and perspectives

Frontiers in Zoology
Julian K A LangowskiJohan L van Leeuwen

Abstract

Tree frogs have the remarkable ability to attach to smooth, rough, dry, and wet surfaces using their versatile toe pads. Tree frog attachment involves the secretion of mucus into the pad-substrate gap, requiring adaptations towards mucus drainage and pad lubrication. Here, we present an overview of tree frog attachment, with focus on (i) the morphology and material of the toe pad; (ii) the functional demands on the toe pad arising from ecology, lifestyle, and phylogenetics; (iii) experimental data of attachment performance such as adhesion and friction forces; and (iv) potential perspectives on future developments in the field. By revisiting reported data and observations, we discuss the involved mechanisms of attachment and propose new hypotheses for further research. Among others, we address the following questions: Do capillary and hydrodynamic forces explain the strong friction of the toe pads directly, or indirectly by promoting dry attachment mechanisms? If friction primarily relies on van der Waals (vdW) forces instead, how much do these forces contribute to adhesion in the wet environment tree frogs live in and what role does the mucus play? We show that both pad morphology and measured attachment performance suggest th...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 26, 2019·Bioinspiration & Biomimetics·Jessica A SandovalMichael T Tolley
Jun 11, 2019·Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences·Fandong MengW Jon P Barnes
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May 16, 2020·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Julian K A LangowskiJohan L van Leeuwen
Jul 21, 2020·Integrative and Comparative Biology·Mary Kate O'Donnell, Stephen M Deban
Jun 19, 2019·Frontiers in Zoology·Julian K A LangowskiJohan L van Leeuwen
Mar 19, 2020·Ecology and Evolution·Rishab PillaiLin Schwarzkopf
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Sep 10, 2020·Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids·Maciej ChudakAnton A Darhuber
Sep 11, 2020·ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·Jessica A SandovalDimitri D Deheyn

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Methods Mentioned

BETA
atomic force microscopy
transmission electron microscopy
force measurements

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