title: Highly deformable bones: unusual deformation mechanisms of seahorse armor.
abstract: Multifunctional materials and devices found in nature serve as inspiration for advanced synthetic materials, structures and robotics. Here, we elucidate the architecture and unusual deformation mechanisms of seahorse tails that provide prehension as well as protection against predators. The seahorse tail is composed of subdermal bony plates arranged in articulating ring-like segments that overlap for controlled ventral bending and twisting. The bony plates are highly deformable materials designed to slide past one another and buckle when compressed. This complex plate and segment motion, along with the unique hardness distribution and structural hierarchy of each plate, provide seahorses with joint flexibility while shielding them against impact and crushing. Mimicking seahorse armor may lead to novel bio-inspired technologies, such as flexible armor, fracture-resistant structures or prehensile robotics.
authors.affiliation: Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. m1porter@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: Ekaterina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Novitskaya
authors.forename: Ana Bertha
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Castro-Ceseña
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McKittrick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D019245:Compressive Strength / Q000502:physiology; D055119:Elastic Modulus / Q000502:physiology; D006244:Hardness / Q000502:physiology; D011859:Radiography; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013623:Tail / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology