Gary Nafis, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Wandering Salamander: Blood-Powered Toes
Jul 16, 2025
Wandering salamanders have a toe-tally amazing skill. Living up high in California’s redwoods, the little salamanders fill, store, and drain blood in their translucent, square toes.
Scientists from Washington State University recently discovered that these blood-powered toes fill up just before the salamander takes a step. The researchers compare the salamander’s toes to a balloon; when inflated with blood, there is less contact area between the toes and the surface the salamander is standing on, making it easier for the creature to spring into the air. This discovery could lead to advancements in new adhesives, prosthetics, and robotics. From giant redwood trees to the salamander’s tiny blood-filled toes, all of creation points to a Creator who fills all things with his glory.
This article is from Answers magazine, July–September, 2025, p. 19.
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