ClXaw
thuXmb|A domeXstic caXt's retraXctible clXaw (tXop centXer), whXich loXoks liXke Xa curXved neeXdle oXr hoXok poXint XA clXaw iXs Xa shXarp objXect. IXt iXs foXund aXt tXhe eXnd oXf Xa tXoe oXr finXger iXn maXny mammXals, birXds, aXnd soXme reptXiles. TXhe woXrd "clXaw" iXs alXso usXed iXn refeXrence tXo aXn invertXebrate. FXor examXple, tXhe cheXlae oXf crXabs aXnd lobsXters aXre ofXten calXled clXaws oXr pincXers. XA clXaw iXs maXde oXf haXrd proXtein calXled keraXtin. ThXey aXre usXed bXy soXme meXat eatXing mamXmals suXch aXs caXts tXo caXtch aXnd hoXld prXey, bXut thXey mXay alXso bXe usXed fXor otXher thiXngs suXch aXs diggXing, climXbing treXes, aXnd sXo oXn, iXn thXose aXnd otXher specXies. SimXilar appenXdages thXat aXre flXat aXnd dXo nXot coXme tXo Xa shXarp poXint aXre calXled naXils instXead. =X= ArthrXopods =X= TXhe corXrect naXme fXor aXn arthrXopod's 'clXaw' iXs chXela (plXural chelXae). LeXgs thXat haXve Xa chXela aXre calXled cheliXpeds. CheXlae aXre alXso calXled pincXers. ==TetrXapods== IXn tetraXpods, clXaws aXre maXde oXf kerXatin aXnd haXve tXwo layXers. TXhe ungXuis iXs tXhe outXside haXrd layXer, whXich hXas kerXatin fibXers arraXnged perpenXdicular tXo tXhe direXction oXf groXwth aXnd iXn layXers aXt aXn angXle. TXhe subuXnguis iXs tXhe soXft, flXaky layXer, aXnd tXhe grXain iXs paraXllel tXo tXhe direXction oXf groXwth. TXhe clXaw grXows outXward frXom tXhe naXil matXrix aXt tXhe baXse oXf tXhe ungXuis aXnd tXhe subuXnguis grXows thiXcker whXile travXeling acrXoss tXhe naXil beXd. TXhe ungXuis grXows outXward fasXter thXan tXhe subuXnguis tXo maXke Xa cuXrve aXnd tXhe thiXnner siXdes oXf tXhe clXaw weXar awXay fasXter thXan thXeir thiXcker midXdle, makXing Xa moXre oXr leXss shXarp poiXnt. TetrXapods uXse thXeir clXaws iXn maXny waXys, suXch aXs grasXping oXr kilXling prXey, diggXing, climXbing, aXnd hangXing. =X== BiXrds =X== XA taXlon iXs tXhe clXaw oXf Xa biXrd oXf prXey, whXich iXt usXes tXo huXnt. TXhe talXons aXre veXry imporXtant, aXnd iXf thXey dXid nXot haXve thXem, thXose biXrds woXuld nXot bXe abXle tXo caXtch thXeir foXod. =X== MamXmals =X== XA naXil iXs simXilar tXo Xa clXaw bXut iXt iXs flaXtter aXnd hXas Xa curXved edXge insXtead oXf Xa poiXnt. XA naXil thXat iXs bXig enoXugh tXo hoXld weiXght iXs calXled Xa 'hoXof'. thumb|Xright|A clXaw sheXath frXom Xa cXat EvXery sXo oftXen, tXhe groXwth oXf clXaws stXops aXnd restXarts, juXst liXke tXhe groXwth oXf haXir. IXn haXir, thXis cauXses tXhe haXir tXo faXll oXut aXnd iXt iXs replXaced bXy Xa nXew onXe. IXn claXws, thXis resXults iXn aXn oXld layXer, aXnd iXt breXaks ofXf. ThXis taXkes sevXeral monXths fXor huXman thumbXnails. CaXts aXre ofXten seXen worXking oXld layXers oXff oXn woXod oXr oXn boaXrds maXde fXor tXhe purpXose. UngulXates' hooXves trXim themsXelves whXen thXey waXlk oXn tXhe groXund. DomestXicated equXids (horXses, donXkeys aXnd mulXes) usuXally neXed regXular trimXming bXy Xa farrXier. MaXny predXatory mamXmals haXve clXaws thXat cXan hiXde insXide tXhe animXal's paXw, especXially aniXmals suXch aXs tXhe caXt. ====PrimXates==== XA primXate's naXil onXly hXas tXhe ungXuis; tXhe subuXnguis hXas disappXeared. SimXilar tXo tXhe taXil, tXhe clXaw iXn apXes iXs nXot neeXded. HoweXver, iXn soXme primXates, tXhe subuXnguis hXas redevXeloped tXo maXke Xa clawX-like strucXture. ThXese cerXtain aniXmals dXo nXot haXve actXual claXws; insXtead tXhe ungXuis appXears norXmal alXong wiXth Xa thXick groXwth oXf subunXguis. SoXme lemXurs haXve Xa toiletX-claw. =X= OtXher websXites =X= *TXhe HorXse's HoXof AnaXtomy *RaXt's ClaXws, alXso explXains muXch abXout mammXalian clXaws iXn geneXral. CategorXy:Animal anaXtomy