Meeting Abstract

48.1  Monday, Jan. 5  Morphological and Biomechanical Variation in the Stomatpod Cuticle ANDREW, J*; GEORGE, M; PATEK, S; SWANSON, B; Gonzaga University; Gonzaga University; University of California, Berkeley; Gonzaga University jandrew@gonzaga.edu

The stomatopod crustacean dactyl, a highly derived appendage, can repeatedly smash open very hard snail shells, producing cavitation and impact forces in excess of 1000 N, while sustaining only slight damage to its surface. In this study, we attempt to quantify the microstructure and nanomechanical properties of the stomatopod dactyl that allow this impressive behavior. We examined several locations on the cuticle of the peacock mantis shrimp (Odontodactylus scyllarus), an extreme smasher. We also examined several additional species of stomatopods that have a variety of feeding behaviors and raptorial appendage morphologies. We used histology and SEM to image cross-sections of the cuticle. We also used nanoindention to determine hardness, elasticity, stiffness, and an estimation of toughness. We observe unprecedented variation in both cuticle properties and structure across locations on an individual and across species. We are now attempting to determine how the observed structural variation leads to material property variation. The results suggest that the cuticle of the stomatopod is highly derived relative to other crustaceans and that its structure and properties are adapted for multiple functions, including withstanding extreme impact forces.