Paw

Paw

.

Common characteristics

The paw is characterised by thick, pigmented, keratinised, hairless epidermis covering subcutaneous, collagenous, adipose tissue which make up the pads. These pads act as a cushion for the load-bearing limbs of the animal. The paw consists of the large, heart-shaped metacarpal pad (forelimb) or metatarsal pad (rear limb), and generally four load bearing digital pads, although there can be five or six toes in the case of bears and the Giant Panda. A carpal pad is also found on the forelimb which is used for additional traction when stopping or descending a slope in digitigrade species. Additional dew claws can also be present.

The paw also includes a horny, beak shaped claw on each digit. Though usually hairless, certain animals do have fur on the soles of their paws. An example being the Red Panda, whose furry soles help insulate them in their snowy habitat.

Animals with paws

* Members of the Canidae family, such as dogs and foxes
* Felines, such as cats and tigers, some of these animals may have toe tufts
* Bears and Raccoons
* Weasels and other mustelids
* Rodents

ee also

*Claw
*Digitigrade

References

* [http://137.222.110.150/calnet/Lfoot/Lfoot.htm Anatomy of the dog's foot]
* [http://www.mcpi.org Maine Coon Polydactyl International]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?
Synonyms:
(of beasts with claws) / (in contempt)


Look at other dictionaries:

  • Paw — Pays d’origine  États Unis Lawrence, Kansas Genre musical Grunge Heavy metal Metal alt …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Paw — (p[add]), n. [OE. pawe, poue, OF. poe: cf. patte, LG. pote, D. poot, G. pfote.] 1. The foot of a quadruped having claws, as the lion, dog, cat, etc. [1913 Webster] 2. The hand. [Jocose] Dryden. [1913 Webster] {Paw clam} (Zo[ o]l.), the tridacna;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • paw- — *paw germ., Maskulinum: nhd. Pfau; ne. peacock; Rekontruktionsbasis: ae., as., ahd.; Interferenz: Lehnwort lat. pāvo; Etymologie: s. lat …   Germanisches Wörterbuch

  • Paw — Paw, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Pawed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Pawing}.] 1. To pass the paw over; to stroke or handle with the paws; hence, to handle fondly or rudely. [1913 Webster] 2. To scrape or beat with the forefoot. [1913 Webster] His hot courser… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • paw´er — paw «p», noun, verb. –n. 1. the foot of an animal having claws or nails. Cats, dogs, monkeys, and bears have paws. 2. Informal. the hand, especially when it is clumsy, or awkwardly used. –v.t. 1. to strike or scrape with the paws or feet: »The… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Paw — Paw, v. i. To draw the forefoot along the ground; to beat or scrape with the forefoot. Job xxxix. 21. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • PAW — may refer to: * *Pentecostal Assemblies of the World *Physics Analysis Workstation *Plasma arc welding *Post Apocalyptic World *Professional Adventure Writer *Project African Wilderness *Projector Augmented Wave, a pseudopotential method of… …   Wikipedia

  • paw — {{/stl 13}}{{stl 8}}rz. mż III, lm D. pawwi {{/stl 8}}{{stl 7}} duży, egzotyczny ptak leśny osiągający do 120 cm długości, którego samiec odznacza się wspaniałym, mieniącym się upierzeniem, barwnym czubkiem na głowie, rozkładanym wachlarzowato… …   Langenscheidt Polski wyjaśnień

  • paw — ► NOUN 1) an animal s foot having claws and pads. 2) informal a person s hand. ► VERB 1) feel or scrape with a paw or hoof. 2) informal touch or handle clumsily or lasciviously. ORIGIN Old French poue …   English terms dictionary

  • paw — paw1 [pô] n. [ME paue < OFr poue < Frank * pauta, a paw (< pre Celt * pauta) > Ger pfote] 1. the foot of a four footed animal having claws 2. Informal a hand vt., vi. 1. to touch, dig, hit, strike out (at), etc. with the paws or feet… …   English World dictionary

  • PAW — PAW. См. Плазменно дуговая сварка. (Источник: «Металлы и сплавы. Справочник.» Под редакцией Ю.П. Солнцева; НПО Профессионал , НПО Мир и семья ; Санкт Петербург, 2003 г.) …   Словарь металлургических терминов

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”