Mineral crystals enhance cutting ability: limpet

1 of 1 Common limpet / Tango22 / License

The radula of Patella limpets has cutting tips that incorporate magnetite crystals and silicon dioxide.

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Break down >
	Physically break down >
	Biotic materials

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Composite tools or machines for cutting (including on the nano- or micro-scales) More durable agricultural tools and implements

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

"Another mollusk, the limpet Patella, backs the magnetite cutting tips of its radula with silicon dioxide (Runham et al. 1969). Incidentally, mollusks renew their radulas from the back as they wear near the front much the way elephants renew their teeth." (Vogel 2003:333)

"Most classes in the phylum of the Mollusca possess a radula, a flexible ribbon, located in the mouth cavity, on which are implanted several tens of transverse rows of teeth. The radula is used as a rasp during feeding of organisms living on rocky substrates. Through the continuous growth of the radular ribbon new rows of teeth steadily enter into the wearing zone, while at the same rate teeth in the last row break loose from the ribbon. The enhanced erosive capability of the radula is due to the presence of teeth with an upright standing, hard, mineralized cusp." (van der Wal et al. 2000)

About the inspiring organism

Limpet
Patella vulgata
[Limpet]

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: Composite tools or machines for cutting (including on the nano- or micro-scales), more durable agricultural tools and implements.

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Nanotechnology, manufacturing, agriculture

References

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

Runham, NW; Thornton, PR; Shaw, DA; Wayte, RC. 1969. Mineralization and hardness of the radular teeth of the limpet Patella vulgata. Z. Zelforsch. 99: 608-626.

Van Der Wal, P.; Giesen, H. J.; Videler, J. J. 2000. Radular teeth as models for the improvement of industrial cutting devices. Materials Science and Engineering C. 7(2): 129-142.

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Thanks to Duarte Miguel Prazeres for finding and uploading this photo.

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