Nanoscale hairs may help gecko skin trap moisture and slow evaporation

Phys.org reports that a desert‑dwelling gecko faces a greater threat from dehydration than from predators. Its skin is so thin that water can evaporate faster than it can be replenished, yet the reptile is covered in nanoscopic hairs called setulae that capture moisture. These tiny setulae help the animal retain water and slow evaporation, improving its chances of surviving in arid shrubland.

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