Claws

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Claws

horny formations at the ends of the digits of terrestrial vertebrates. In amphibians the claws are thickenings of the horny layer of the epidermis.

True claws are found on the majority of reptiles, all birds, and many mammals; they are used as auxiliary organs during ambulation and as weapons in active defense and attack. Claws are usually horny covers on the ends of the phalanxes of the fingers and toes; the upper side is formed from a hard cornaceous substance (claw layer), and the underside (cushion layer) is soft. The unequal wear of the two layers keeps the claws sharpened.

Claws in mammals are particularly varied: they are sharp and powerful in climbing animals, relatively thin and retractable in felines (weapons of attack), and large and thick in burrowing animals. In swimming animals claws have partially or completely disappeared. In mammals nails and hooves are variations of claws.

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No references found			A half-hour later, the Lion, thoughtfully picking his teeth with his claws, told the Rattlesnake that he had never in all his varied experience in being subdued, seen a subduer try so earnestly to give it up. Fantastic-Fables by Bierce, Ambrose View in context With one blow of his paw he sent the Scarecrow spinning over and over to the edge of the road, and then he struck at the Tin Woodman with his sharp claws. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Baum, L. Frank View in context The King of the Apes, enraged at hearing these truths, gave him over to the teeth and claws of his companions. Fables by Aesop View in context			Clavdia clavel Clavel, Bernard Charles Henri Claverhouse, John Graham of Clavering, Sir Francis Claviceps Toxicosis Clavichord clavicle claviculate Clavière, Étienne claviform Clavijero, Francisco Javier Clavileño clavis Clavius, Cristoph clavus claw claw back claw bar claw chisel claw clutch claw coupling claw hammer claw hatchet claw plate Claws Clawson Claxton, Philander Priestly clay clay atmometer Clay Belt clay binder clay bit clay brick clay cable cover clay content Clay County clay digger clay gall clay ironstone Clay Karst clay loam clay marl clay masonry unit clay mineral Clay Minerals Clay Mortar Clay Myers State Natural Area at Whalen Island clay pan clay pipe Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve			clawed back clawed back clawed back clawed back Clawed Frog Clawed Frog Clawed Salamander clawfoot clawfoot clawfooted clawfooted clawhammer clawhammer clawhammer clawhammer clawhand clawing clawing clawing clawing clawing back clawing back clawing back clawing back Clawless Clawless Clawless clawlike CLAWMLS CLAWR Claws claws back claws back claws back claws back Clawson claxon claxon Claxton Community Volunteer Emergency Services Claxton, Philander Priestly clay clay clay clay Clay (abolitionist) Clay Aiken Clay and Glass Arts Foundation Clay animation Clay animation clay atmometer Clay Belt clay binder clay bit clay brick Clay Brick and Paver Institute clay cable cover Clay Center Amateur Radio Club Clay Central-Everly Clay Coated Newsback Clay cold clay content

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