You are here

Stick tight: suction adhesion on irregular surfaces in the northern clingfish.

TitleStick tight: suction adhesion on irregular surfaces in the northern clingfish.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2013
AuthorsWainwright DK, Kleinteich T, Kleinteich A, Gorb SN, Summers AP
JournalBiology letters
Volume9
Issue3
Pagination20130234
Date Published2013 Jun 23
ISSN1744-957X
KeywordsAnimals, Fishes, Stress, Mechanical, Surface Properties
Abstract

<p>The northern clingfish, Gobiesox maeandricus, is able to adhere to slippery, fouled and irregular surfaces in the marine intertidal environment. We have found that the fish can adhere equally well to surfaces with a broad range of surface roughness, from the finest sandpaper (R(a) = 15 &micro;m) to textures suitable for removing finish from flooring (R(a) = 269 &micro;m). The fishes outperform man-made suction cups, which only adhere to the smoothest surfaces. The adhesive forces of clingfish correspond to pressures 0.2-0.5 atm below ambient and are 80-230 times the body weight of the fish. The tenacity appears related to hierarchically structured microvilli around the edges of the adhesive disc that are similar in size and aspect ratio to the setae found on the feet of geckoes, spiders and insects. This points to a possible biomimetic solution to the problem of reversibly adhering to irregular, submerged surfaces.</p>

DOI10.1098/rsbl.2013.0234
Alternate JournalBiol. Lett.