Jul 03, 2015 11:04 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

Scientists are studying seahorses for their unique, squarely shaped tail for how it could help design robots.

According to the Los Angeles Times, authors of a study published in the journal Science noted the seahorse's tail does not seem like it should work in an underwater setting. Rather than being smooth and round, it is square and rough, making it better to ward off predators and hold things.

"We found that this square architecture provides adequate dexterity and a tough resistance to predators, but also that it tends to snap naturally back into place once it's been twisted and deformed," study co-author Ross Hatton, an assistant professor in the College of Engineering at Oregon State University, said in a press release. "This could be very useful for robotics applications that need to be strong, but also energy efficient and able to bend and twist in tight spaces."

The researchers said they could apply these findings to surgical technology, as well as robots designed to search through natural disaster sites. They determined the square structure is tougher and better prepared to survive crushing blows.

"Human engineers tend to build things that are stiff so they can be controlled easily," Hatton said. "But nature makes things just strong enough not to break, and then flexible enough to do a wide range of tasks. That's why we can learn a lot from animals that will inspire the next generations of robotics."

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