Claw Identification

Claws are commonly encountered in the wildlife trade. - Can be found as loose claws, pieces of jewelry, or trinkets. - Proper identification is crucial for accurate classification.

Loose claws can be identified to their family of origin.
Specific identifications include: - Foot origin: identifying whether from the rear right or left foot. - Digit identification: determining which digit the claw originates from. - Class of animal: distinguishing between mammals and birds.

Claws reflect the natural history of the animal they belong to, influencing: - Feeding habits - Locomotion - Habitat preferences
Key significance is that mammals and birds occupy similar ecological niches, leading to morphological similarities in claws.

Composition: Claws primarily consist of bone covered by a keratin sheath known as the unguis.
To distinguish between classes: - Mammal Claws: - Generally incompletely covered by the unguis. - The margins of the unguis meet partially underneath the claw. - Bird Claws: - Fully sheathed with the unguis covering completely on top and on the sides. - The plantar surface covered by a plate of keratin called the subungus.

Differentiating real and imitation claws: - Imitation claws can be made from: - Real keratin - Synthetic materials
Keratin: - A sulfurous protein found in hair, nails, beaks, horns, hooves, turtle shells, whale baleen, talons, and claws. - Easily carved into pieces resembling animal claws for commercial products. - Examination with a magnifying lens can reveal distinctions between genuine keratin and synthetic materials.

Check the shape and color to determine authenticity: - Genuine bear claws: Scimitar-shaped, silvery brown to blackish on top, lighter underneath. - Genuine cat claws: Pale yellowish-white, more rounded, almost semicircular. - Both characteristics are susceptible to imitation.

Examine the underside of the claw: - Genuine mammal claws feature a deep open channel created by the free edges of the lower claw sheath's walls (unguis). - This channel can be filled with organic debris (dried tissue, dirt, etc.). - Search for free edges on either side of the subungual groove. - Eagles and raptors: Have a solid subungus rather than an open channel.
Fine structural features: - Real claws exhibit fine, tiny structural ridges following the natural claw shape, running in an arc from under the bony collar (ungual crest) to the tip. - Tiny wrinkles represent growth rings in claw keratin. - Avoid confusing these with random scratches from manufacturing processes.

Structural features in carved horn or hoof: - Imitation joints show small, straight fibrils of keratin with uniformly parallel lines, lacking the arched curvature of real claws.
Fake claws: - The lower edge of a fake subungual groove appears squared-off, contrary to natural tapering. - Higher magnification shows striations of cutting tools used during fake claw manufacture.
Claws made from keratin from other sources: - May lack a subungual groove or show poorly executed grooves using rudimentary tools. - Fake claws cast from molds display air bubbles that burst during processing, leading to telltale craters visible under magnification.

Acetone tests can determine if the paint on imitation claws dissolves, revealing synthetic surfaces.
Comparative examination: - Real claw: Displays natural structural characteristics. - Fake claw: May have machine marks or molded surfaces differing from genuine anatomy.

Provided specimen examples: - Imitation bear claw: - Color fits the description but is identified as resin. - Uniform imitation groove lacking characteristics of genuine claws. - Imitation tiger claw: - Correct pale color, slight indentation observed. - Lacks lines found in true claw keratin. - Real raptor claw: - Example from a red-tailed hawk demonstrating correct bone and keratin structure.

Claw identification is complex and requires careful examination of structural, color, and morphological characteristics. - Many imitation claws closely mimic real ones but lack specific details that reveal their authenticity.