Dewclaw
A dewclaw is a digit – vestigial in some animals – on the foot of many mammals, birds, and reptiles (including some extinct orders, like certain theropods). It commonly grows higher on the leg than the rest of the foot, such that in digitigrade or unguligrade species, it does not make contact with the ground when the animal is standing. The name refers to the dewclaw's alleged tendency to brush dew away from grass.[1] On dogs and cats, the dewclaws are on the inside of the front legs, similarly to a human's thumb, which shares evolutionary homology.[2] Although many animals have dewclaws, other similar species do not, such as horses, giraffes and the African wild dog.
Dogs
[edit]Dogs almost always have dewclaws on the inside of the front legs and occasionally also on the hind legs.[1][3] Unlike front dewclaws, rear dewclaws tend to have little bone or muscle structure in most breeds. For certain dog breeds, a dewclaw is considered a necessity, e.g., a Beauceron for sheep herding and for navigating snowy terrain.[1]
Rear dewclaws
[edit]Canids have four claws on the rear feet,[4] although some domestic dog breeds or individuals have an additional claw, or more rarely two, as is the case with the Beauceron. A more technical term for these additional digits on the rear legs is hind-limb-specific preaxial polydactyly.[5] Several genetic mechanisms can cause rear dewclaws; they involve the LMBR1 gene and related parts of the genome.[5] Rear dewclaws often have no phalanx bones and are attached by skin only.[6]
Dewclaws and locomotion
[edit]Based on stop-action photographs, veterinarian M. Christine Zink of Johns Hopkins University believes that the entire front foot, including the dewclaws, contacts the ground while running. During running, the dewclaw digs into the ground preventing twisting or torque on the rest of the leg. Several tendons connect the front dewclaw to muscles in the lower leg, further demonstrating the front dewclaws' functionality. There are indications that dogs without dewclaws have more foot injuries and are more prone to arthritis. Zink recommends "for working dogs it is best for the dewclaws not to be amputated. If the dewclaw does suffer a traumatic injury, the problem can be dealt with at that time, including amputation if needed."[2]
Cats
[edit]Members of the cat family – including domestic cats[7] and wild cats like the lion[8] – have dewclaws. Generally, a dewclaw grows on the inside of each front leg but not on either hind leg.[9]
The dewclaw on cats is not vestigial. Wild felids use the dewclaw in hunting, where it provides an additional claw with which to catch and hold prey.[8]
Hoofed animals
[edit]
Hoofed animals walk on the tips of special toes, the hooves. Cloven-hoofed animals walk on a central pair of hooves, but many also have an outer pair of dewclaws on each foot. These are somewhat farther up the leg than the main hooves, and similar in structure to them.[10] In some species (such as cattle) the dewclaws are much smaller than the hooves and never touch the ground. In others (such as pigs and many deer), they are only a little smaller than the hooves, and may reach the ground in soft conditions or when jumping. Some hoofed animals (such as giraffes and modern horses) have no dewclaws. Video evidence suggests some animals use dewclaws in grooming or scratching themselves or to have better grasp during mating.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Danziger, D., & McCrum, M. (2008). The Thingummy: A book about those everyday objects you just can't name. London: Doubleday.
- ^ a b Zink, M. Christine. "Form Follows Function – A New Perspective on an Old Adage" (PDF). Penn Vet Working Dog Center. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 November 2015.
- ^ Rice, Dan (2008). The Complete Book of Dog Breeding (2 ed.). Barron's Educational Series. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7641-3887-4.
- ^ Macdonald, D. (1984). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. p. 56. ISBN 0-87196-871-1.
- ^ a b Park, K.; Kang, J.; Subedi, K. P.; Ha, J-H.; Park, C. (August 2008). "Canine Polydactyl Mutations With Heterogeneous Origin in the Conserved Intronic Sequence of LMBR1". Genetics. 179 (4): 2163–2172. doi:10.1534/genetics.108.087114. ISSN 0016-6731. PMC 2516088. PMID 18689889.
- ^ Hosgood, Giselle (1998). Small Animal Paediatric Medicine and Surgery. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-7506-3599-8.
- ^ "Clipping a Cat's Claws (Toenails)". Pet Health Topics. Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
Cats have a nail on the inner side of each foot called the dew claw. Remember to trim these as they are not worn down when the cat scratches and can grow in a circle, growing into the foot.
- ^ a b "Physiology". Lion ALERT. Retrieved 2 November 2013.
Lions have four claws on their back feet but five on the front where the dew claw is found. This acts like a thumb and is used to hold down prey while the jaws rip away the meat from bone. Set well back from the other claws the dew claw does not appear in the print.
- ^ Bircher, Steve (5 November 2011), Tiger Tales (PDF), National Tiger Sanctuary, archived from the original (PDF) on 3 November 2013
- ^ Perich, Shawn; Furman, Michael (2003). Whitetail Hunting: Top-notch Strategies for Hunting North America's Most Popular Big-Game Animal. Creative Publishing international. pp. 8, 9. ISBN 978-1-58923-129-0.
