The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897)
Abstract The exoskeleton of spiders is the primary structure that interacts with the external mechanical stimuli, thus playing a crucial role in spider life. In particular, fangs, legs, and prosoma are the main rigid structures of the exoskeleton and their properties must be measured to better under...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16307-y |
| _version_ | 1818162687290376192 |
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| author | Sara Residori Gabriele Greco Nicola M. Pugno |
| author_facet | Sara Residori Gabriele Greco Nicola M. Pugno |
| author_sort | Sara Residori |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The exoskeleton of spiders is the primary structure that interacts with the external mechanical stimuli, thus playing a crucial role in spider life. In particular, fangs, legs, and prosoma are the main rigid structures of the exoskeleton and their properties must be measured to better understand their mechanical behaviours. Here we investigate, by means of nanoindentation, the mechanical properties of the external sclerotized cuticles of such parts in the spider Harpactira curvipes. Interestingly, the results show that the leg’s cuticle is stiffer than the prosoma and has a stiffness similar to the one of the tip fangs. This could be explained by the legs’ function in perceiving vibrations that could be facilitated by higher stiffness. From a broader perspective, this characterization could help to understand how the same basic material (the cuticle, i.e. mainly composed of chitin) can be tuned to achieve different mechanical functions, which improves the animal’s adaptation to specific evolutive requirements. We, thus, hope that this work stimulates further comparative analysis. Moreover, these results may also be potentially important to inspire the design of graded materials with superior mechanical properties. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:37:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20073497449d4ef7a7f851aa463ecdbf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:37:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-20073497449d4ef7a7f851aa463ecdbf2022-12-22T00:58:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-07-0112111110.1038/s41598-022-16307-yThe mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897)Sara Residori0Gabriele Greco1Nicola M. Pugno2Laboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of TrentoLaboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of TrentoLaboratory for Bioinspired, Bionic, Nano, Meta Materials & Mechanics, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering, University of TrentoAbstract The exoskeleton of spiders is the primary structure that interacts with the external mechanical stimuli, thus playing a crucial role in spider life. In particular, fangs, legs, and prosoma are the main rigid structures of the exoskeleton and their properties must be measured to better understand their mechanical behaviours. Here we investigate, by means of nanoindentation, the mechanical properties of the external sclerotized cuticles of such parts in the spider Harpactira curvipes. Interestingly, the results show that the leg’s cuticle is stiffer than the prosoma and has a stiffness similar to the one of the tip fangs. This could be explained by the legs’ function in perceiving vibrations that could be facilitated by higher stiffness. From a broader perspective, this characterization could help to understand how the same basic material (the cuticle, i.e. mainly composed of chitin) can be tuned to achieve different mechanical functions, which improves the animal’s adaptation to specific evolutive requirements. We, thus, hope that this work stimulates further comparative analysis. Moreover, these results may also be potentially important to inspire the design of graded materials with superior mechanical properties.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16307-y |
| spellingShingle | Sara Residori Gabriele Greco Nicola M. Pugno The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897) Scientific Reports |
| title | The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897) |
| title_full | The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897) |
| title_fullStr | The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897) |
| title_short | The mechanical characterization of the legs, fangs, and prosoma in the spider Harpactira curvipes (Pocock 1897) |
| title_sort | mechanical characterization of the legs fangs and prosoma in the spider harpactira curvipes pocock 1897 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-16307-y |
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