Spinal column has strength and flexibility: armored shrew

The spine of armored shrews is remarkable strong yet flexible, due to interlocking vertebral spines located laterally, dorsally, and ventrally on the spinal column.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Move or stay put >
	Attach >
	Temporarily

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Joining elements for pre-manufactured buildings in earthquake zones. Joining or hitching elements in transportation environments that require flex as well as strength.

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Armored shrews (Scutisorex somereni) have a unique skeletal feature. Interlocking lateral, dorsal, and ventral vertebral spines create an exceptionally sturdy vertebral column. Despite this feature, these shrews still have considerable flexibility and can bend dorsoventrally and laterally." (Fowler and Miller 2003:304)

About the inspiring organism

Armored Shrew
Scutisorex somereni (Thomas, 1910)
[Armored shrew]

IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern
Habitat(s): Forest

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: Joining elements for pre-manufactured buildings in earthquake zones. Joining or hitching elements in transportation environments that require flex as well as strength.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Building, automotive, yachts, trains

References

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

Spinal column has strength and flexibility: armored shrew

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