Claws out

Claws are usually associated with hunting and fighting, but some animals use theirs for tasks as simple as scratching

Many animals, including dogs, have a digit high on their limb called a dewclaw. They are sometimes used during fights or to grip things but often serve no purpose. The African clawed frog is the only amphibian with claws. Three short claws on each hind foot are used to tear large food into more manageable pieces. Hoatzins hatch with claws on two digits of each wing. They use them like an ice pick to scramble up trees, but they’re lost when flight feathers develop. Protosimians like bush babies have flattened claws known as toilet claws. They’ve evolved their unusual shape specifically for grooming and aren’t used for any other purpose. 22% The giant armadillo’s biggest claws make up 22 per cent of its total body length, giving it the largest…

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World of Animals Annual (Digital) - 1 Issue, World of Animals Annual (2024)

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