Kermit’s sticky little fingers: What do we know about tree frog attachment?

Tree frogs have an incredible ability to attach to a range of surfaces from smooth glass to rough wood in both wet and dry conditions. In this blog Julian Langowski, co-author of a new paper published in Frontiers in Zoology, takes us through the proposed mechanisms of tree frog attachment.

This study may lead to new insights into the fundamentals of contact and attachment. It can also contribute to a better understanding of other biological attachment systems. Finally, knowledge on the attachment of tree frogs is expected to stimulate the development of a wide array of bio-inspired adhesive applications that are as versatile as the toe pads of tree frogs.