2 papers
physics.bio-ph2026
Redundant contacts and force redistribution stabilize limbless vertical climbing
Calvin A. Riiska, Michelle Lee, Yonatan Nemenman +3
Animals navigating complex vertical environments must secure stable footholds, a challenge for species without feet. While arboreal climbing has evolved repeatedly in snakes, the p…
physics.bio-ph2025
Preserved reptile scales retain microscopic features, revealing a new instance of convergent evolution
Calvin A. Riiska, Gordon W. Schuett, Joseph R. Mendelson +1
Small-scale structures on biological surfaces can profoundly impact how animals move, appear, and interact with their environments. Such textures may be especially important for li…