Bristles facilitate movement: earthworms

1 of 1 Earthworm bristles / Mnolf / License

Short rearward-pointing bristles on the body of an earthworm make rectilinear motion possible by grabbing the ground as the worm slides.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Move >
	In/on solids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Boring machinery or tools that mimic the functionality of setae, agricultural tools that minimize soil disturbance (and thus erosion) during planting.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The basic worm trick consists of stretching and squeezing alternate parts of a long, cylindrical trunk, moving each region of stretch or squeeze rearward, as in figure 24.7a. Despite the rearward progression, the scheme can't do much without one more component. Thus, a worm on a smooth and lubricated surface makes negligible progress--we're not looking at an analog of anguilliform (eel-like) swimming. The trunk needs some device so it slides more easily forward than rearward. For earthworms, setae, short rearward-pointing bristles, provide that crucial asymmetry." (Vogel 2003:488)

About the inspiring organism

Clitellata
Clitellata

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Boring machinery or tools that mimic the functionality of setae, agricultural tools that minimize soil disturbance (and thus erosion) during planting.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Engineering, hand tools, agriculture

References

Steven Vogel. 2003. Comparative Biomechanics: Life's Physical World. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 580 p.

Bristles facilitate movement: earthworms

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