How animal paw pads got their toughness
Briefly

Animals have evolved paw skin that serves multiple functions, including providing traction on diverse surfaces and supporting the animal's weight during physical activities such as running and jumping. A critical element in this adaptation is a single protein that evolved to safeguard the paw skin from mechanical pressure. This evolution was vital as four-legged animals transitioned to walking on land, ensuring their mobility and agility across different terrains.
The skin on animals' paws is versatile, providing traction on a variety of surfaces while also supporting a creature's weight during running and jumping.
Four-legged animals can thank a single protein that evolved to protect paw skin from mechanical pressure as creatures adapted to walking on land.
Read at Nature
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