Claws vs. nails - Matthew Borths

Discover the evolutionary purpose of nails, and explore the theories of why they evolved from claws over 55 million years ago.
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Consider the claw. Frequently found on animals around the world, it’s one of nature’s most versatile tools. Bears use claws for digging as well as defense. An eagle’s needle-like talons can pierce the skulls of their prey. Even the ancestors of primates used to wield these impressive appendages, until their claws evolved into nails. So what caused this adaptation? Matthew Borths investigates.
Lesson by Matthew Borths, directed by Augenblick Studios.
Animator's website: www.augenblickstudios.com
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View full lesson: ed.ted.com/lessons/claws-vs-n...
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[@kylenetherwood8734]

Imagine having huge ears like an elephant then hearing with your toe nails.

[@RoScFan]

That size is for thermoregulation. not hearing

[@avikdas4055]

@@RoScFan R/whoosh

[@VictorD264]

The elephants ears are big helping them to comunicate at long distances

[@santoshd6613]

Omggg I laughed out so loud.....

[@janjacobfernandez5527]

One word Lord Toph The Greatest Earth Bender

[@hydris3664]

“Animals with nails on the other hand” 2:18 I see what you did there Ted-Ed

[@eliass144]

Hiding poison in honey ...

[@amogusinsuster9560]

MrFatilo yes we are big walking plants from fairy land

[@uhhuh1291]

Takafi Elias How in the world is that poison?

[@uhhuh1291]

Getnoob And sub to pewdpie I don’t understand why it is called propaganda if most people who are specialists in those areas agree that this is true. If we are not animals, then what are we? Lego people?

[@ate313]

MrFatilo huh

[@GajanaNigade]

I love tha fact that the script incorporates puns more often than not. It's an indication that the people are having fun at work.

[@GajanaNigade]

@@fayyaz5785 Well... I'm a 'glass half full' kind of guy.

[@indigofenrir7236]

@@GajanaNigade That glass is half-full of air molecules.

[@GajanaNigade]

@@indigofenrir7236 Mmmm... Air. Yummm...

[@RikkuTakanashi]

Puns are also funny and if you weren't paying attention before, you do when a pun is told. It breaks up the mono-ness of a flat, straight to the point, sentence and makes it just a little bit more interesting.

[@thejudge4546]

Gajanan Nigade and I’m an “it’s matter” type of guy

[@RuriDaisy]

"Nails and claws are the same." *looking at some nails art trend these days* . Weeeeell, that make a sense.

[@zyaicob]

I have claws on my pinky toes

[@hzzx0739]

@@zyaicob what

[@zubair-rp1ie]

@@hzzx0739 well, we kinda do

[@csar07.]

KZbin users admit to having claws on their feet.

[@tivenfn3512]

That punch line at the end though 😂 4:50

[@rise1above]

Nailed it

[@1.4142]

"scratched the surface"

[@azulBjort_1406]

Golden nail 😂😂

[@FakenameStevens]

You laughed at that?

[@somerandomcommenter7228]

its called a pun and sometimes it's painful

[@hinderance4060]

"We all live in a matrix" -A random piece of keratine

[@CeaselessWatcher5818]

Undderated comment

[@christianandersen4749]

Kristi A. Teguh true

[@moujeshagrawal9393]

I wish I had such animations and narrations in my school *Great Going TedEd*

[@moujeshagrawal9393]

#TeamTrees

[@moujeshagrawal9393]

Thanks TedEd for a heart!!!!

[@creatoranonymous8568]

So true

[@moujeshagrawal9393]

@The Flaneur lmfao

[@geertvanrijn1538]

They nailed it!

[@firevenus1873]

Spot on Ted Ed even put nail pun at the end, spot on

[@blauesserpiroyal2887]

One could say, they nailed it

[@thedude4039]

Yeah, spot on! One might even say that they... nailed it.

[@awanderingperson708]

"I nailed it!" ~Naily, BFB, multiple occasions

[@soot.sparks]

You could say they NAILed it.

[@Evercreeper]

They scratched that off their bucket list

[@osse1n]

2019: nails are evolving to become claws again

[@Quantum-Bullet]

O'SSÉIN - Master Your Mind With Me imagine touch screens.

[@harveybeaver9731]

How retro of them!

[@roguishpaladin]

That's not how evolution works. Evolution doesn't have a target that it aims for. A variety of traits presents in a given generation and those traits which do not hinder the possessor from reproduction get passed on. It's a very important distinction.

[@morningglory.2]

@@roguishpaladin Hey, I don’t think you got that. It was a joke.

[@rebelli65]

And that’s called an r/wooooosh

[@jhngrc_]

Love it when puns aren't announced. I roll my eyes whenever I hear "pun intended."

[@aren4073]

Anyone else took a look at their nails 😂

[@tuesdaywithanh]

I had to go google if monkeys have fingernails. I know it says so, but it wasn't *super* clear...

[@sirrivet9557]

Oh god my nails are long. If I was a girl that’d be fine, but I’m a guy and my grandma freaks out seeing them

[@lilac9346]

@@sirrivet9557 Wear your long nails with pride! Nice nails are for everyone!

[@itsskyzee4537]

😂

[@daddymcawesome363]

No

[@Theraot]

The cells grow out from the matrix, Mr. Anderson.

[@rickandelon9374]

Alfonso J. Ramos yup

[@oldcowbb]

this is extra funny because the narrator really is mr.anderson

[@overcookedwater1947]

When I was a child I used to clip my nails into the shape of claw and pretend I was any clawed creature whilst scratching my other siblings

[@emza8964]

OML i gotta try that on my sis -muahahahah-

[@overcookedwater1947]

@@emza8964 hahaha do it. 😈

[@TheRealB1gA]

That’s tight

[@conceptdrive9733]

I still do it and I must say it even has some useful applications.

[@berbal9658]

Im gonna assume you are a girl because something like that is too complicated of a plan to annoy siblings as a boy Also long nails look kinda weird idk

[@MrDvfdsv]

scratched the surface nail down why we itch lul i love this channel

[@rickandelon9374]

Nails on the other hand!

[@rickandelon9374]

Animals with nails on the other hand!

[@liviilazii7679]

Okay, just finished the video, you guys have done a fantastic job! What a lesson. I'd usually say " I wish this was presented at school" but instead I'll say: Thank you so much for taking the time to create this. I've always wondered why do we have nails and now I've been given an answer! Very well done, incredibly well animated, narrated and loads of actually useful information. Bravo!

[@midgetman4206]

We may have lost them but we created a better version, the pointy or sharp rock, sharp and pointy rock, and the refined rock (metal, for knives)

[@PandaBeatsStudios]

This is a really a good and thought-provoking lesson in claws and nails. I guess you could say Ted-Ed really... *Nailed it*?

[@mustiz1898]

haha very funny

[@FakenameStevens]

Riiight.

[@iSyriux]

This is soooo SOOOO funny boi boi su funny and the best condment ever ,. ! !! very funny jokes,2021 and funnyCemment Pliz and computer comment KZbin free Visit 2021 Coment Sooo funny the best comment go ever !! Consider

[@iSyriux]

This is the a funny comment funny funy funny funny laughing ,Good Time 😂😂😂 Lol

[@iSyriux]

So funny me Lol lol lol lollllll kk

[@arvindr1838]

Advantages of Nails: Can always win a match of rock paper and scissors with claw bearing animals.

[@somerandomcommenter7228]

I saw that pun, well it's fine being a claw *bear*ing animal

[@AgnesRonan]

Pretty handy that we evolved these dandy tree grabbers. They help me get a handle on a situation when I'm in a pinch.

[@robertawagu2778]

Creativity overload! From the animation to the narration. Love it

[@beastwarsFTW]

Nails are also useful for cleaning, not only can they scratch skin without doing to much damage but they can also remove dirt or biomass from tools primates use.

[@awentuszioniusa8171]

Clear, Simple & Vastly informative!

[@010Gama]

I always wondered if (even if they’re not claws anymore) nails have the capacity to truly hurt or mangle tissue, like, in self defense, can you actually make a deep wound just by scratching someone with your nails? Specially if you keep them long and well.

[@FirstnameLastname-xh9gd]

Yes

[@ziggy8253]

“Welcome to the Keratin Matrix.” -Morpheus 1:24

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

Humans were to op when they started throwing things so devs removed claws to nerf them a Little

[@bruh-dj5uo]

Little did they know it would backfire

[@deepakrksheerasagar5452]

Paweł Andonis Gawralidis Dobrzański herbu Leliwa. u here from tierzoo?

[@paweandonisgawralidisdobrz2522]

@@deepakrksheerasagar5452 yeah he is a real pro

[@vukkulvar9769]

Can they remove our little toe and finger ? No more hitting a furniture on the toe !

[@legitimate8463]

Tierzoo

[@lunaaurorabaudelaire1958]

When you drop some acid with your homies 4:46

[@shawnblondin]

10/10

[@jakobraahauge7299]

BRILLIANT animation! Just gorgeous - goes beautifully with the great text and the narration! That was truly a gem! 💎

[@longplaygames]

Bright too.

[@ayeletnechmad3874]

Beautiful animation and interesting video, Teded never let's me down 👏👏👏

[@MakubexIsVik]

Very creative video. Can you guys do a video of what goes behind the scenes to make such excellent videos?

[@rekhagoka4392]

Love the narration and the animation

[@Ashod00]

"We've only scratched the surface of all the incredible ways nails and claws are used throughout the animal kingdom, but as for which of these adaptations is better, that's an answer we may never nail down." How many puns can they put in a sentence?

[@jubel742]

2 as you can see

[@TH__TranPhuongQuynh]

I love Ted ed videos, it never makes me disappointed 💕

[@KJ-ve4iy]

You nailed it! Great job!

[@husein881]

4:51 Nailed it!

[@ranigoud1942]

the animations are mindblowing they are just too awsome

[@anitha998]

Loved the animation and the cinematography!

[@spycrab3723]

Question: do Nails have layers? I asked this beacuse when i was playing a guitar, a part of my nail was folded, but not the whole thing.

[@Tatiana-jt9hd]

Mico Lim i’ve has that before. i think so. gotta check google.

[@spycrab3723]

Ok

[@connorsimmonds9698]

Theyre like ogres or onions. They have layers

[@ate313]

Connor Simmonds ogres?😂

[@tcs15]

They do.

[@daisythomas127]

i love watching not for learning just for amusement thank you for entertaining me every day!!!

[@rosellaaj3709]

3:49 that is what happens when you get false nails at the salon

[@lucrentrisastolo6862]

Another Great video, thanks Ted - Ed!

[@indigofenrir7236]

Man, the pun delivery is good. I'd say you guys nailed it.

[@black_platypus]

Such a cute animation, but still visually helpful where it counts :)

[@thenmozhiayyanar4698]

It just feels so nice to hear these nail puns.. It's fun and creative .,❤️💫

[@Rodiacreed]

A pretty informative video and the animation is entertaining like always.

[@azraaydn737]

Wow i always wondered the starting point of nail on the fingers. Thx teacher

[@lara_xy]

Loving the animation in this one

[@sulahmonize5576]

Ted-Ed videos make me think about things I never knew I should have been thinking about.

[@atenakitabi3769]

Great video, it should I say, you Nailed it!

[@bratwurstmitbiryani]

Flawless animation, like every time

[@spycrab3723]

Good job, Ted-Ed, i loved the pun at the end! And never have i known, that, our ancestors actually had claws! And Manatees actually have nails?

[@tazia321]

Every night before I go to sleep, I would watch a few TED Ed videos. When I eventually go to sleep, my dreams are often would like the graphics you’d see in the videos 😌

[@datura9441]

My dreams look like borderlands graphics

[@hero9402]

i love visual animation of every ted-ed video

[@Alkalus]

Ted-Ed did a really good job animating this...

[@yumnaamjad2637]

i love the voice of this narrator so soothing

[@talentlesscommentermdxxvii9419]

Yeah you’re weird.

[@Chigo-nr8jg]

4:42...the eagle is like “WTF! Your finger!!” Primate: *trippin* The manatee chilling with his herbs

[@ethanpkaiser]

This is a video I didn’t want but actually needed

[@lysseul2138]

They nailed this animation! 👌

[@mariadelacruz1153]

My manicures are Stilletto nails(pointy nails cut). They are useful for opening stuff, papers, plastics and picking up things is easy. I guess i kinda have claws.

[@1Manda1]

You Nailed it Ted-Ed

[@sdrawkcabdaernacuoy]

Great video! You nailed it!

[@Alkalus]

Stop, just stop...🤣😂

[@deanab-se5op]

Good as always!

[@nicoleyarwood9194]

Please do a video one what exactly is a protein and what are the different kinds?

[@Weirdoid]

Do hair vs fur next. I always wondered if our hair evolved from underfur or guard hairs.

[@shoulders-of-giants]

THE ANIMATOR DESERVES A NOBEL PRIZE ❤️

[@longplaygames]

I think those are Oscars for short animation.

[@VictorPet.]

4:50 that's how every party I am in looks like

[@smarchz]

Good work

[@gaganbharadwaj7559]

TED-Ed just *nailed* with this video.

[@PhillipAmthor]

*You guys nailed it!*

[@aniketshrivastava4908]

those animations are really good

[@d.2217]

3:38 that walk though.

[@mandelbrodt]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qpOmdXmEh6ZgjdE

[@marmalade8915]

Another cool and fun thing evolution took from us

[@Wild_Beary]

You nailed all the puns. Congrats brother

[@sadmanpranto9026]

I just wish our nails were a bit harder and sturdier than how it is now... So that I won't have constant risk of getting them clipped out or broken by accidents....

[@rafi7252]

TED-Ed nailed it

[@captainsmoker3466]

0è465ė444į

[@jeewansingh4060]

I just love this old school animation.

[@noemibaudelaire7151]

aww Ted you nailed it again!💅🏻

[@user-ci2lg1lw5b]

사람의 손톱과 동물의 발톱의 공통점과 차이점에 대하여 배웠습니다. 차이점이 손가락의 뼈의 구조가 다르다는것이 재미있었습니다. 사람의 손톱은 얇은 나무가지를 잡기에 유리한것과 같이 손톱의 장점이 생각보다 많다는 것을 배웠습니다. 좋은 동영상 감사합니다.

[@ljubicamilicevic944]

This artstyle is so pretty!

[@rachelthibodeaux4163]

WOW this really cut deep in my life

[@mjstory1976]

Awesome and informative video

[@jamdc2000]

nice video, you nailed it

[@nomobobby]

Admit it, you were checking your hands at least once in this video. Btw, thanks for another great animation Ted Ed!

[@1.4142]

"scratched the surface" nailed it!

[@warsameadam5572]

This videos sheds a light on how my wife reacquired claws when she got back from the nail salon.

[@maktur7531]

Nailed it!

[@TheOnlyZiTRO]

love the animation

[@bySelie]

Love the animation

[@charlieg2262]

There's something hilarious about the way the ape moves and acts

[@realpityview]

You nailed that pun. 04:49

[@bruskydu]

I was clipping my nails when this showed up in my recommendations. Impeccable timing

[@margaretmathis4775]

OMG! I was just thinking about this!

[@sethleoric2598]

You guys nailed it

[@maxhill9254]

thank you

[@Vugen18]

I like how facts works. U just feel it makes sense on every lvl

[@datura9441]

You just feel it resonate! And when you don't understand something you research it and go into a deep rabbit hole!.. every time

[@buttercupkat]

"We've only _scratched_ the surface" I see what you've done there. ;)

[@RetroGameSpacko]

I crushed a finger once and the nail soon fell off. It's amazing how much things are more difficult to perform without that nail on your finger. Luckily those things regrow.

[@CuteLittleHen]

You really *nailed* the puns on this one.

[@beegdigit9811]

4:35 did that aye-aye just flip me off? U wot m8?

[@nakiesno0b798]

0:00 intro sooo iconic sound

[@ammaokami4479]

My cat usually tries to use her claws for grasping. Like when I go to stop petting her she'll reach out and gently hook my hand/fingers. I don't think she's ever intentionally scratched me