Claw 72764 225355844 2008-07-13T07:07:04Z RekishiEJ 983723 Interwiki:+zh {{otheruses}} [[Image:Cat claw closeup.jpg|thumb|Demonstrating the retractable claw of a house cat by pressing gently on the toe]] A '''claw''' is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most [[mammals]], [[birds]], and some [[reptiles]]. Somewhat similar fine hooked structures are found in [[arthropod]]s such as beetles and spiders, at the end of the leg or [[Arthropod leg|tarsus]] for gripping a surface as the creature walks. However, when most people use the word "claws" in reference to an animal without a backbone, they mean crab or lobster claws or pincers, more formally known as "chelae". A claw is made of hard protein. Claws are used to catch and hold prey in carnivorous mammals such as cats and dogs, but may also be used for such purposes as digging, climbing trees, etc, in those and other species. Similar appendages which are flat and do not come to a sharp point are called [[nail (anatomy)| nails]] instead. ==Arthropods== The correct term for an arthropod's 'claw' is a '''chela''' (plural ''chelae''). Legs bearing a chela are called '''chelipeds'''. Chelae are also called '''pincers'''. ==Tetrapods==<!-- This section is linked from [[Pangolin]] --> [[Image:T._rex_right_hind_foot_%28lat%29.JPG|thumb|The claws of [[T-rex]] are among the largest recorded]] In [[tetrapod]]s, claws are made of [[keratin]] and consist of two layers. The '''unguis''' 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 '''subunguis''' is the softer, flaky underside layer whose grain is parallel to the direction of growth. The claw grows outward from the '''nail matrix''' at the base of the unguis and the subunguis grows thicker while travelling across the '''nail bed'''. 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. ===Birds=== A '''talon''' is the claw of a [[bird of prey]], its primary hunting tool. The talons are very important, without them the bird would not be able to catch its food. ===Mammals=== A '''[[nail (anatomy)|nail]]''' is [[Homology (biology)|homologous]] 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 '[[hoof]]' (see also [[Horse hoof]]. However, one side of the cloven-hoof of [[Artiodactyla|artiodactyl]] [[ungulate]]s may also be called a claw). [[Image:Katzenkralle.jpg|thumb|right|A claw sheath from a cat]] Every so often, the growth of claws stops and restarts, as does [[hair]]. In hair, this results in the hair falling out and being replaced by a new one. In claws, this results in an [[abscission]] layer and the old segment breaks off. This process takes several months for [[human]] thumbnails. [[Cat]]s 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 [[equid]]s ([[horse]]s, [[donkey]]s and [[mule]]s) usually need regular trimming by a [[farrier]], as a consequence of reduced activity on hard ground. Many [[predator]]y mammals have retractile (retractable) claws that can partially hide inside the animal's [[paw]], especially the [[felidae]], where almost all of its members have fully retractable claws. ====Primates==== A [[primate|primate's]] [[Nail (anatomy)|nail]] consists of the unguis alone; the subunguis has disappeared. Much like the [[tail]], the claw in apes is no longer necessary. However, in some individuals the subunguis has redeveloped to form a claw-like structure. These individuals don't have actual claws, instead the unguis appears normal with the addition of a thick growth of subunguis. ==See also== *[[Horse hoof]] *[[Commons:Horse hoof]] *[[Claw of Archimedes]] ==External links== {{Commonscat|Claws}} *[http://ultimatehorsesite.com/info/hoof.html The Horse's Hoof Anatomy] *[http://www.ratbehavior.org/claws.htm Rat's Claws], also explains much about mammalian claws in general. [[Category:Animal anatomy]] [[Category:Dinosaur anatomy]] [[ar:مخلب]] [[da:Klo]] [[de:Kralle]] [[es:Garra]] [[fr:Griffe (anatomie animale)]] [[he:טפר]] [[io:Unglo]] [[ja:鉤爪]] [[nl:Hoef]] [[no:Klo]] [[pl:Pazur]] [[pt:Garra]] [[ru:Коготь]] [[simple:Claw]] [[sv:Klo]] [[th:กีบ (เล็บเท้าสัตว์)]] [[zh:爪]]