title: Viscoelastic features of adhesive setae of the tokay gecko (Gekko gecko L.).
abstract: Deformations of particular setae of adhesive toe pad of the tokay gecko were investigated by atomic-force microscopy. The effective elastic modulus of the investigated setae varying within 0.34-19 GPa, a pronounced hysteresis was observed during reversible bending of setae. The hysteresis-related energy losses may be as high as 98% of the total bending work. The pronounced viscous features of the setae contradict the hypothesis of dynamic self-cleaning of the gecko adhesive cover, according to which the setae are considered as absolutely elastic cantilever beams.
authors.affiliation: Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119071, Russia. yuvertb@sevin.ru.
authors.forename: Yu F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ivlev
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technology of Microelectronics and Specially Pure Materials, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, Russia.
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Il'in
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technology of Microelectronics and Specially Pure Materials, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow oblast, Russia.
authors.forename: O V
authors.initials: OV
authors.lastname: Trofimov
mesh_terms: D000825:Animal Structures; D000818:Animals; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008116:Lizards; D012867:Skin