A grooming claw (or toilet claw) is the specialized claw or nail on the foot of certain primates, used for personal grooming. All prosimians have a grooming claw, but the digit that is specialized in this manner varies.[1]Tarsiers have a grooming claw on second and third toes. In the suborder Strepsirrhini, which includes lemurs, galagos and lorises, the grooming claw is on the second toe.[2] Less commonly known, a grooming claw is also found on the second pedal digit of night monkeys (Aotus), titis (Callicebus), and possibly other New World monkeys.[3]
Close-up of a ruffed lemur's foot, showing the toilet-claw on the second toe and nails on all other toes
The first toe is the large one, the equivalent of a human big toe. However, in all these prosimians the foot is more or less hand-like. The first toe is opposable, like a human thumb, and the second and third toes correspond approximately to the index and middle fingers.
Like a claw or a nail, the grooming claw is also made of keratin. It resembles a claw in both its lateral compression and longitudinal curvature. However, the tip is not as pointed, and it always stands at a steeper angle, a characteristic that also distinguishes it from a nail.[1]
Functionedit
The grooming claw is used in personal grooming to rake through the fur or scratch, particularly around the head and neck.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abSoligo, C.; Müller, A. E. (1999). "Nails and claws in primate evolution". Journal of Human Evolution. 36 (1): 97–114. doi:10.1006/jhev.1998.0263. PMID 9924135.
^Schwitzer, C; Mittermeier, R. A.; Louis Jr., E. E.; Richardson, M. C. (2013). "Family Daubentoniidae: Aye-aye". In Mittermeier, Russell A.; Rylands, Anthony B.; Wilson, Don E. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World. Volume 3. Primates. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. pp. 176–181. ISBN978-84-96553-89-7.
^ abMaiolino, S.; Boyer, D. M.; Rosenberger, A. (2011). "Morphological Correlates of the Grooming Claw in Distal Phalanges of Platyrrhines and Other Primates: A Preliminary Study". The Anatomical Record. 294 (12): 1975–90. doi:10.1002/ar.21498. PMID 22042603.
External linksedit
Media related to Toilet claws at Wikimedia Commons
January 01, 1970
grooming, claw, grooming, claw, toilet, claw, specialized, claw, nail, foot, certain, primates, used, personal, grooming, prosimians, have, grooming, claw, digit, that, specialized, this, manner, varies, tarsiers, have, grooming, claw, second, third, toes, sub. A grooming claw or toilet claw is the specialized claw or nail on the foot of certain primates used for personal grooming All prosimians have a grooming claw but the digit that is specialized in this manner varies 1 Tarsiers have a grooming claw on second and third toes In the suborder Strepsirrhini which includes lemurs galagos and lorises the grooming claw is on the second toe 2 Less commonly known a grooming claw is also found on the second pedal digit of night monkeys Aotus titis Callicebus and possibly other New World monkeys 3 Close up of a ruffed lemur s foot showing the toilet claw on the second toe and nails on all other toes The first toe is the large one the equivalent of a human big toe However in all these prosimians the foot is more or less hand like The first toe is opposable like a human thumb and the second and third toes correspond approximately to the index and middle fingers Like a claw or a nail the grooming claw is also made of keratin It resembles a claw in both its lateral compression and longitudinal curvature However the tip is not as pointed and it always stands at a steeper angle a characteristic that also distinguishes it from a nail 1 Function editThe grooming claw is used in personal grooming to rake through the fur or scratch particularly around the head and neck 3 References edit a b Soligo C Muller A E 1999 Nails and claws in primate evolution Journal of Human Evolution 36 1 97 114 doi 10 1006 jhev 1998 0263 PMID 9924135 Schwitzer C Mittermeier R A Louis Jr E E Richardson M C 2013 Family Daubentoniidae Aye aye In Mittermeier Russell A Rylands Anthony B Wilson Don E eds Handbook of the Mammals of the World Volume 3 Primates Barcelona Lynx Edicions pp 176 181 ISBN 978 84 96553 89 7 a b Maiolino S Boyer D M Rosenberger A 2011 Morphological Correlates of the Grooming Claw in Distal Phalanges of Platyrrhines and Other Primates A Preliminary Study The Anatomical Record 294 12 1975 90 doi 10 1002 ar 21498 PMID 22042603 External links edit nbsp Media related to Toilet claws at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grooming claw amp oldid 1199751550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
