Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin
The skin of the African bush elephant features micrometer-wide channels whose function is water and mud retention for thermal regulation and protection from parasites. Here authors use microscopy and modelling to show that the channels are fractures of the animal thick and brittle skin outermost lay...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2018-10-01
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Series: | Nature Communications |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06257-3 |
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author | António F. Martins Nigel C. Bennett Sylvie Clavel Herman Groenewald Sean Hensman Stefan Hoby Antoine Joris Paul R. Manger Michel C. Milinkovitch |
author_facet | António F. Martins Nigel C. Bennett Sylvie Clavel Herman Groenewald Sean Hensman Stefan Hoby Antoine Joris Paul R. Manger Michel C. Milinkovitch |
author_sort | António F. Martins |
collection | DOAJ |
description | The skin of the African bush elephant features micrometer-wide channels whose function is water and mud retention for thermal regulation and protection from parasites. Here authors use microscopy and modelling to show that the channels are fractures of the animal thick and brittle skin outermost layer. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:47:26Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-358451733a03440482d52fb7a10fc152 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2041-1723 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:47:26Z |
publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
publisher | Nature Portfolio |
record_format | Article |
series | Nature Communications |
spelling | doaj.art-358451733a03440482d52fb7a10fc1522022-12-21T22:55:27ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232018-10-01911810.1038/s41467-018-06257-3Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skinAntónio F. Martins0Nigel C. Bennett1Sylvie Clavel2Herman Groenewald3Sean Hensman4Stefan Hoby5Antoine Joris6Paul R. Manger7Michel C. Milinkovitch8Laboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution (LANE), Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of GenevaMammal Research Institute, University of PretoriaZoo African SafariDepartment of Anatomy & Physiology, University of PretoriaAdventures with ElephantsZoo BaselRéserve AfricaineSchool of Anatomical Sciences, University of the WitwatersrandLaboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution (LANE), Department of Genetics & Evolution, University of GenevaThe skin of the African bush elephant features micrometer-wide channels whose function is water and mud retention for thermal regulation and protection from parasites. Here authors use microscopy and modelling to show that the channels are fractures of the animal thick and brittle skin outermost layer.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06257-3 |
spellingShingle | António F. Martins Nigel C. Bennett Sylvie Clavel Herman Groenewald Sean Hensman Stefan Hoby Antoine Joris Paul R. Manger Michel C. Milinkovitch Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin Nature Communications |
title | Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin |
title_full | Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin |
title_fullStr | Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin |
title_full_unstemmed | Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin |
title_short | Locally-curved geometry generates bending cracks in the African elephant skin |
title_sort | locally curved geometry generates bending cracks in the african elephant skin |
url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06257-3 |
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