Skin secretion slows desiccation: lesser siren

The skin of the lesser siren protects from desiccation by secreting a mucus cocooon.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from abiotic factors >
	Loss of liquids

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Food and other packaging that retains moisture, covers for ponds that prevent evaporation, oxygen scavenging applications for fire retardants.

[Collapse all sections] Summary

"The skin of Siren intermedia is fully metamorphosed, amphibian-like, and specialized in its cocoon-producing function. During aestivation in burrows in the bottoms of dry ponds, epidermal and dermal skin glands secrete a cocoon which covers the entire body except the mouth. This structure, remarkably like the cocoons of African lungfishes, retards desiccation and permits sirens to remain in periodically dry, aquatic environments. This adaptive strategy may be alternative to that of avoiding drought by overland movement to nearby water." (Reno et al. 1972:625)

About the inspiring organism

Lesser Siren
Siren intermedia Barnes, 1826
[Lesser siren]

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Artificial - Aquatic, Wetlands

Some organism data provided by: ITIS: The Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Food and other packaging that retains moisture, covers for ponds that prevent evaporation, oxygen scavenging applications for fire retardants.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Packaging, water storage, fire

References

Reno, H. W.; Gehlbach, F. R.; Turner, R. A. 1972. Skin and Aestivational Cocoon of the Aquatic Amphibian, Siren intermedia Le Conte. Copeia. 1972(4): 625-631.

Skin secretion slows desiccation: lesser siren

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