Since the ventral body side of snakes is in almost continuous contact with the substrate during locomotion, their skin is
presumably adapted to generate propulsion (high friction) and simultaneously slide along the substrate at rather low
friction. In this study, the microstructure of ventral scales is shown and its influence on frictional properties was
investigated by the use of scanning electron microscopy and microtribometry. To analyze the role of the system stiffness
on the frictional anisotropy, two different types of sample cushioning (hard and soft) were tested while sliding in four
different directions. Frictional anisotropy for both types of sample cushioning was demonstrated, however, the
anisotropy was much stronger expressed in the soft cushioned sample. This effect is explained by the stronger ability of
the soft-cushioned microstructure to slip along (or resist) the micro- and nanoscale features of the substrate, if compared
with the hard-cushioned one.
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