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The power of the claw
Bruce M Rothschild1, Bill Bryant, Christopher Hubbard
1Biodiversity Institute, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America ; Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, Ohio, United States of America.
Plos One
|September 12, 2013
Summary
Claws, not just teeth, can scratch and damage bone. This study provides evidence that the kinetic energy of a tiger's claw strike can cause significant bone pathology, expanding our understanding of bone damage mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Zoology
- Forensic Science
Background:
- Bone scratches are often attributed to tooth marks, a largely untested assumption.
- The potential for claws to damage bone is frequently underestimated due to perceived softness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if animal claws are capable of scratching and damaging bone surfaces.
- To provide a proof of concept for claw-induced bone pathology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a tiger enrichment program to observe bone damage.
- Ensured tigers accessed bones solely through paw and claw interaction.
- Analyzed the resulting bone pathologies to identify claw-induced damage.
Main Results:
- Documented unequivocal bone damage caused by tiger claws.
- Demonstrated that bones are susceptible to damage from the kinetic energy of striking claws.
- Expanded the understanding of mechanisms causing bone damage beyond tooth marks.
Conclusions:
- Claws possess the capability to scratch and inflict damage on bone surfaces.
- The kinetic impact of claws is a significant factor in bone pathology.
- Differential diagnosis of bone scratch marks should include claw impacts.
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