Oscillation of the velvet worm slime jet by passive hydrodynamic instability

Andrés Concha (), Paula Mellado, Bernal Morera-Brenes, Cristiano Sampaio Costa, L Mahadevan and Julián Monge-Nájera ()
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Andrés Concha: School of Engineering and Sciences, Adolfo Ibañez University, Diagonal las Torres 2640, Peñalolen, Santiago 7941169, Chile
Paula Mellado: School of Engineering and Sciences, Adolfo Ibañez University, Diagonal las Torres 2640, Peñalolen, Santiago 7941169, Chile
Bernal Morera-Brenes: Laboratorio de Genética Evolutiva, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica
Cristiano Sampaio Costa: Institute of Bioscience, Universidade de Sao Paulo
L Mahadevan: School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University
Julián Monge-Nájera: Tropical Biology, Universidad de Costa Rica

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The rapid squirt of a proteinaceous slime jet endows velvet worms (Onychophora) with a unique mechanism for defence from predators and for capturing prey by entangling them in a disordered web that immobilizes their target. However, to date, neither qualitative nor quantitative descriptions have been provided for this unique adaptation. Here we investigate the fast oscillatory motion of the oral papillae and the exiting liquid jet that oscillates with frequencies f~30–60 Hz. Using anatomical images, high-speed videography, theoretical analysis and a physical simulacrum, we show that this fast oscillatory motion is the result of an elastohydrodynamic instability driven by the interplay between the elasticity of oral papillae and the fast unsteady flow during squirting. Our results demonstrate how passive strategies can be cleverly harnessed by organisms, while suggesting future oscillating microfluidic devices, as well as novel ways for micro and nanofibre production using bioinspired strategies.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7292

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