417:
508:
370:
45:
384:
190:
456:
birds in having functional claws on the thumb and index finger (digits I and II) on the forelimbs as chicks, allowing them to climb trees until the adult plumage with flight feathers develop. However, several birds have a claw- or nail-like structure hidden under the feathers at the end of the
181:. The unguis grows outward faster than the subunguis to produce a curve and the thinner sides of the claw wear away faster than their thicker middle, producing a more or less sharp point. Tetrapods use their claws in many ways, commonly to grasp or kill prey, to dig and to climb and hang.
240:
on the inside of the front paws. It is much less functional than the other claws but does help the cats to grasp prey. Because the dew claw does not touch the ground, it receives less wear and tends to be sharper and longer.
440:
use claws on their inner toe (digit I) for defence and have been known to disembowel people. All birds, however, have claws, which are used as general holdfasts and protection for the tip of the digits.
313:
nails consist of the unguis alone, as the subunguis has disappeared. With the evolution of grasping hands and feet, claws are no longer necessary for locomotion, and instead most digits exhibit
341:
have functional claws on all other digits except the hallux, including a grooming claw on the second toe. Less commonly known, a grooming claw is also found on the second pedal digit of
436:, its primary hunting tool. The talons are very important; without them, most birds of prey would not be able to catch their food. Some birds also use claws for defensive purposes.
673:
Maiolino, S.; Boyer, D. M.; Rosenberger, A. (2011). "Morphological
Correlates of the Grooming Claw in Distal Phalanges of Platyrrhines and Other Primates: A Preliminary Study".
282:
are often seen working old unguis layers off on wood or on boards made for the purpose. Ungulates' hooves wear or self-trim by ground contact. Domesticated
169:
is the harder external layer, which consists of keratin fibers arranged perpendicular to the direction of growth and in layers at an oblique angle. The
225:, almost all of whose members have fully protractible claws. Outside of the cat family, retractable claws are found only in certain species of the
739:"Predatory Functional Morphology in Raptors: Interdigital Variation in Talon Size Is Related to Prey Restraint and Immobilisation Technique"
395:
Most reptiles have well-developed claws. Most lizards have toes ending in stout claws. In snakes, feet and claws are absent, but in many
988:
881:
416:
145:
instead. Claw-like projections that do not form at the end of digits but spring from other parts of the foot are properly named
1014:
622:
252:
to a claw but is flatter and has a curved edge instead of a point. A nail that is big enough to bear weight is called a "
173:
is the softer, flaky underside layer whose grain is parallel to the direction of growth. The claw grows outward from the
572:
1088:
17:
1010:
270:. In a hair, this results in the hair falling out and being replaced by a new one. In claws, this results in an
405:, remnants of highly reduced hind-limbs emerge with a single claw as "spurs" on each side of the anal opening.
708:
Alibardi, L. (2008). "Microscopic analysis of lizard claw morphogenesis and hypothesis on its evolution".
1034:(Lissamphibia: Anura) reveal alternate pathways of structural evolution in the integument of tetrapods"
845:
Cho, Patricia; Brown, Rosanne; Anderson, Marilyn (1984-01-01). "Comparative gross anatomy of ratites".
614:
607:
The Big Cats and their fossil relatives: an illustrated guide to their evolution and natural history
507:
1104:
737:
Fowler, Denver W.; Freedman, Elizabeth A.; Scannella, John B. (2009-11-25). Pizzari, Tom (ed.).
515:
The scientifically correct term for the "claw" of an arthropod, such as a lobster or crab, is a
38:
996:
922:
31:
408:
Lizard claws are used as aids in climbing, and in holding down prey in carnivorous species.
750:
421:
8:
1091:
from the original on 16 April 2022), also explains much about mammalian claws in general.
889:
470:
388:
754:
1058:
1029:
967:
914:
781:
249:
177:
at the base of the unguis and the subunguis grows thicker while travelling across the
134:, but may also be used for such purposes as digging, climbing trees, self-defense and
1063:
1049:
906:
862:
827:
786:
768:
723:
690:
655:
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486:
201:
have claws, which vary considerably in length and shape. Claws grow out of the third
135:
947:
1053:
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517:
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478:
330:
326:
318:
283:
274:
layer, and the old segment breaks off. This process takes several months for
202:
141:
Similar appendages that are flat and do not come to a sharp point are called
89:
27:
Curved, pointed appendage at the end of a digit of a mammal, bird, or reptile
1067:
910:
858:
790:
694:
651:
453:
433:
342:
257:
77:
60:
is a curved, pointed appendage found at the end of a toe or finger in most
831:
659:
638:
Soligo, C.; MĂĽller, A. E. (1999). "Nails and claws in primate evolution".
214:
120:
546:
482:
369:
271:
230:
226:
88:
have somewhat similar fine, hooked structures at the end of the leg or
1028:
Maddin, HC; Eckhart, L; Jaeger, K; Russell, AP; Ghannadan, M (2009).
686:
490:
466:
437:
198:
101:
1084:
902:
527:
334:
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158:
97:
69:
44:
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the tips of its fingers to unsheathe the sharp points of its last
551:
474:
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237:
222:
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162:
123:
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85:
81:
65:
61:
383:
266:
Every so often, the growth of claws stops and restarts, as does
1002:
449:
396:
322:
291:
233:). A claw that is retractable is protected from wear and tear.
189:
105:
457:
hand digits, notably ostriches, emus, ducks, geese and kiwis.
329:, used for grooming, can be found on the second toe in living
287:
275:
93:
73:
879:
350:
295:
267:
253:
131:
127:
1027:
279:
218:
49:
672:
736:
485:
has claw analogues on its feet; the frog intentionally
302:, as a consequence of reduced activity on hard ground.
317:. However, claw-like nails are found in small-bodied
882:"Parallel radiations in the primary clades of birds"
92:
for gripping a surface as they walk. The pincers of
806:"Avian clinical pathology. General considerations"
217:claws that can partially hide inside the animal's
256:". (Nevertheless, one side of the cloven-hoof of
1096:
956:Transactions of the Zoological Society of London
844:
473:. Claws evolved separately in the amphibian and
511:Beetle's claws on scanning electron microscope
1030:"The anatomy and development of the claws of
37:"Talons" redirects here. For other uses, see
707:
637:
604:
119:. Claws are used to catch and hold prey in
980:
52:'s retractable claw in protracted position
1057:
821:
780:
762:
948:"On the Morphology of a Reptilian Bird,
506:
415:
382:
368:
188:
43:
880:Fain, Matthew G.; Houde, Peter (2004).
873:
666:
14:
1097:
1015:New Zealand Electronic Text Collection
945:
803:
605:Turner, Alan; AntĂłn, Mauricio (1997).
998:A History of the Birds of New Zealand
631:
298:) usually need regular trimming by a
570:
373:At just under a meter, the claws of
525:). Legs bearing a chela are called
24:
968:10.1111/j.1096-3642.1891.tb00045.x
325:or big toe. A laterally flattened
25:
1116:
1078:
387:Using its claws for anchoring, a
1050:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01052.x
724:10.1111/j.1463-6395.2007.00312.x
1021:
974:
939:
379:are among the largest recorded.
236:Most cats and dogs also have a
165:and consist of two layers. The
104:, more formally known as their
838:
797:
730:
701:
598:
573:"On the Spurs on Birds' Wings"
564:
333:, and the second and third in
138:, in those and other species.
111:A true claw is made of a hard
108:, are sometimes called claws.
13:
1:
823:10.1080/01652176.1987.9694109
557:
496:
460:
263:may also be called a claw).
221:, especially the cat family,
764:10.1371/journal.pone.0007999
205:of the paws and are made of
152:
7:
540:
364:
305:
10:
1121:
1013:on 2021-10-20 – via
640:Journal of Human Evolution
500:
184:
36:
29:
615:Columbia University Press
531:. Chelae are also called
321:on all digits except the
411:
193:A claw sheath from a cat
1007:Sir Walter Lawry Buller
946:Parker, W. K. (1891).
859:10.1002/zoo.1430030205
804:Lumeij, J. T. (1987).
652:10.1006/jhev.1998.0263
512:
469:to bear claws are the
425:
392:
380:
357:), and possibly other
194:
53:
39:Talon (disambiguation)
675:The Anatomical Record
510:
481:) line. However, the
419:
386:
372:
192:
47:
32:Claw (disambiguation)
993:(South-Island Kiwi)"
985:Buller, Walter Lawry
810:Veterinary Quarterly
617:. pp. 130–133.
471:African clawed frogs
422:Eurasian sparrowhawk
161:, claws are made of
30:For other uses, see
950:Opisthocomus hoazin
755:2009PLoSO...4.7999F
580:The Wilson Bulletin
571:Rand, A.L. (1954).
1038:Journal of Anatomy
513:
426:
393:
381:
195:
54:
991:Apteryx australis
897:(11): 2558–2573.
681:(12): 1975–1990.
624:978-0-231-10228-5
452:are unique among
432:is the claw of a
359:New World monkeys
229:(and the extinct
16:(Redirected from
1112:
1072:
1071:
1061:
1025:
1019:
1018:
1009:. Archived from
978:
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921:. Archived from
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402:Boa constrictor
376:Therizinosaurus
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35:
28:
23:
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18:Talon (anatomy)
15:
12:
11:
5:
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1105:Animal anatomy
1093:
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1079:External links
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1074:
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1032:Xenopus laevis
1020:
973:
938:
903:10.1554/04-235
872:
853:(2): 133–144.
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816:(3): 249–254.
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729:
718:(2): 169–178.
711:Acta Zoologica
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331:strepsirrhines
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646:(1): 97–114.
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611:New York City
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479:reptiliomorph
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343:night monkeys
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327:grooming claw
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319:callitrichids
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19:
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1023:
1011:the original
997:
990:
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962:(2): 43–89.
959:
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949:
941:
930:. Retrieved
923:the original
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588:. Retrieved
586:(2): 127–134
583:
579:
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526:
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516:
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443:
434:bird of prey
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389:green lizard
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278:thumbnails.
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140:
110:
57:
55:
847:Zoo Biology
590:16 November
438:Cassowaries
258:artiodactyl
215:protractile
199:carnivorans
175:nail matrix
121:carnivorous
48:A domestic
932:2016-07-08
558:References
547:Horse hoof
497:Arthropods
487:dislocates
483:hairy frog
467:amphibians
461:Amphibians
355:Callicebus
272:abscission
250:homologous
231:Nimravidae
227:Viverridae
1085:Rat Claws
890:Evolution
867:1098-2361
773:1932-6203
528:chelipeds
491:phalanges
465:The only
420:Claws of
261:ungulates
211:predatory
203:phalanges
171:subunguis
159:tetrapods
153:Tetrapods
102:scorpions
1099:Category
1089:archived
1068:19422431
987:(1888).
911:15612298
791:19946365
743:PLoS ONE
695:22042603
541:See also
521:(plural
399:such as
365:Reptiles
339:Aye-ayes
335:tarsiers
306:Primates
179:nail bed
136:grooming
126:such as
98:lobsters
80:such as
76:). Some
70:reptiles
62:amniotes
1059:2736125
919:1296408
832:3314103
782:2776979
751:Bibcode
660:9924135
552:Dactyly
534:pincers
475:amniote
446:hoatzin
311:Primate
300:farrier
292:donkeys
238:dewclaw
223:Felidae
209:. Many
207:keratin
185:Mammals
163:keratin
124:mammals
117:keratin
115:called
113:protein
86:spiders
82:beetles
66:mammals
1066:
1056:
1003:London
917:
909:
865:
830:
789:
779:
771:
693:
658:
621:
523:chelae
454:extant
450:turaco
391:basks.
323:hallux
288:horses
284:equids
167:unguis
106:chelae
90:tarsus
926:(PDF)
915:S2CID
885:(PDF)
576:(PDF)
518:chela
430:talon
412:Birds
397:boids
351:titis
347:Aotus
315:nails
296:mules
276:human
147:spurs
143:nails
94:crabs
74:birds
1064:PMID
907:PMID
863:ISSN
828:PMID
787:PMID
769:ISSN
691:PMID
656:PMID
619:ISBN
592:2012
448:and
444:The
294:and
280:Cats
268:hair
254:hoof
246:nail
197:All
132:dogs
130:and
128:cats
100:and
84:and
58:claw
1054:PMC
1046:doi
1042:214
983:Sir
964:doi
899:doi
855:doi
818:doi
777:PMC
759:doi
720:doi
683:doi
679:294
648:doi
349:),
248:is
219:paw
157:In
50:cat
1101::
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
