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Three muscle fiber patterns inside trunks work together to provide the strength, support, and resistance needed to bend and twist with extreme agility.

Suckers of the octopus hold objects smaller than the suckers by having tiny projections called denticles, 3-micrometer-diameter pegs.

The silica skeleton of the Venus’s flower-basket sea sponge is tough and stable because multiple levels of organization each help to manage forces.

Snakes use zig-zag anchor points and friction to maneuver through tight spaces.

Shrimp’s attack club distributes impact among spiraled layers of fibers

The spines of hedgehogs function as shock-absorbers during falls thanks to their honeycomb-like core and longitudinal stiffening.

Camel fur and sweat glands combine to form a powerful temperature management system.

Electric organs of Amazon electric eels help them to navigate as well as detect and stun prey.

The nasal surfaces of camels help conserve water by using hygroscopic properties to remove water from air during exhalation.

The eye of a lobster focuses reflected light onto the retina using a perfect geometric configuration of square tubes.

Individual scales of pangolins with complex layering overlap to create a flexible shield.

Arapaima fish scales are extremely tough because they are made of tissue arranged in the Bouligand structure 

Specialized feathers of the owl enable near-silent flight by altering air turbulence and absorbing noise.

Unique filtration system allows manta rays to capture small particles without clogging.

Nanopillar cones covering cicada wings bond with bacterial membranes, stretching the portion between the cones to the point of rupturing.

Chamber-cored fibers capture sunlight, gather heat, and retain both to keep the polar bear warm.