Winner of the 2010 Earth Award
  • Browse
Sign In · Join

History:...Larvae produce deadly toxin: leaf beetle...Bill used as heat exchanger for thermoregulation: toco toucan...Attachments cling to intestinal wall: pork tapeworm

Thank a Genius
Created: 2011-09-19
Updated: 2011-09-19

Snout detects pressure: star-nosed mole


Loading...

Slide_show_arrows  1 of 1 Snout detects pressure: star-nosed mole / ditzywolflad.. / LicenseCC-by-nc-sa - Attribution Non-commercial Share Alike

The snout of talpids can detect pressure and other sensory input thanks to the Eimer's gland, a mechanosensory organ.

Biomimicry Taxonomy
 
Taxonomy_1 Process information >
Taxonomy_2 Sense signals/environmental cues >
Taxonomy_3 Touch and mechanical forces
Biomimetic Application Ideas
 
Probe for machining parts, using a vector sensitive micro-probe to adjust pressure for parts creation. Detection of plates in robotic biotechnology applications, determine size, shape, and orientation of array for robotic arms (Biomek or other similar robot)

> Visit strategy page

[Collapse all sections] Summary
"Talpids also possess an Eimer's gland, a mechanosensory organ present on the rhinarium. This organ is highly sensitive and responds to the onset and offset of pressure, to sustained depression of the epidermis, and to changes in the angle of the stimulation. This organ may be used to detect prey by determining surface texture, and in the star-nosed moles the Eimer's gland may detect the electrical fields of prey in water." (Fowler and Miller 2003:304)
About the inspiring organism
Threat Categories LONG_LC Med_starnosedmole Star-nosed Mole
Condylura cristata (Linnaeus, 1758)
[Star-nosed mole]

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Forest, Shrubland, 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: Probe for machining parts, using a vector sensitive micro-probe to adjust pressure for parts creation. Detection of plates in robotic biotechnology applications, determine size, shape, and orientation of array for robotic arms (Biomek or other similar robot)

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Machining, biotechnology, robotics

References
Fowler, ME; Miller, RE. 2003. Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co.
Google>>  Scirus>>

Content tools

Curator of this page

Are you an expert on this topic? Apply to be a curator >



Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 License.

Privacy | Terms of Use | Donate | Sitemap | Feedback

© 2008-2012 The Biomimicry Institute