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It’s rare that any child grows to adulthood without finding at least one injured sparrow to nurse back to health. When confronted with an injured animal, the best course of action is to locate a professional wildlife rescue in your vicinity but until you transport the animal, there are some things you can do to make it more comfortable. more »
In the wild, the hawks of North America are some of nature's most efficient hunters. In captivity, they are used in the sport of falconry. North American hawks are among the most intelligent animals. They used to live only in the wild, but with the growth of the suburban neighborhoods taking over their natural habitat, the hawks'... more »
Hawks are known to be a nuisance to farmers. They are fond of smaller warm-blooded animals for nourishment. Hawks will feed on free-range chickens, ducks, turkeys and geese when the opportunity arises. When other methods have failed, trapping and moving a hawk away from the area is a successful way to protect smaller farm animals... more »
To the uninitiated, owls seem like one of the most amazing pets on the planet: intelligent, loyal, filled with personality, and capable of turning its head almost completely around. But unfortunately for Harry Potter fans, owls are not pets, but wild animals that need to be cared for by trained professionals. more »
Parrots, as wonderful pets as they may be, can harbor some nasty claws, so trimming your pet's talons should be a regular part of your caretaking. But trimming these claws is no easy task. In fact, you should only undertake the challenge if you know exactly what you're doing. more »
The savannah monitor is the only reptile that is not a snake that has a forked tongue. They can grow to as large as four or even six feet at... more »
The Negev is a desert in southern Israel that hosts a variety of animal life. These animals range from herbivores to carnivores, and from the very... more »
A claw is a curved, pointed appendage, found at the end of a toe or finger in most mammals, birds, and some reptiles. However, the word "claw" is also often used in reference to an invertebrate. Somewhat similar fine hooked structures are found in arthropods such as beetles and spiders, at the end of the leg or tarsus for gripping a surface as the creature walks. Crabs and lobsters pincers, or more formally, their "chelae," are sometimes called claws.
A claw is made of hard protein called keratin. Claws are used to catch and hold prey in carnivorous mammals such as cats and dogs, but may also be used for such purposes as digging, climbing trees, etc, in those and other species.
Similar appendages which are flat and do not come to a sharp point are called nails instead.
Arthropods
The correct term for an arthropods claw is a chela (plural chelae). Legs bearing a chela are called chelipeds. Chelae are also called pincers.
Tetrapods
In tetrapods, claws are made of keratin and consist of two layers. The unguis is the harder external layer, which consists of keratin fibers arranged perpendicular to the direction of growth and in layers at an oblique angle. The subunguis is the softer, flaky underside layer whose grain is parallel to the direction of growth. The claw grows outward from the nail matrix at the base of the unguis and the subunguis grows thicker while travelling across the nail bed. The unguis grows outward faster than the subunguis to produce a curve and the thinner sides of the claw wear away faster than their thicker middle, producing a more or less sharp point. Tetrapods use their claws in many ways, commonly to grasp or kill prey, to dig and to climb and hang.
Birds
A talon is the claw of a bird of prey, its primary hunting tool. The talons are very important; without them, most birds of prey would not be able to catch their food.
Mammals
A nail is homologous to a claw but is flatter and has a read more at » http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claw
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