On the rugged, wave-battered rocks of the northern Pacific Ocean, the humble sculpin fish manages to hold its ground in a notoriously hostile environment—without the aid of suction cups or adhesive organs. Unlike sea urchins, which use glue-secreting tube feet, or octopuses that rely on suction, sculpins exhibit a unique, natural gripping ability that has drawn the attention of scientists looking to nature for engineering inspiration.
Researchers from Syracuse University and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette have uncovered a previously unknown traction mechanism in these fish, revealing microscopic structures on their fins that may help them cling to underwater surfaces. Their findings, published in
Royal Society Open Science, open the door to new bio-inspired technologies, including advanced adhesives, robotic grippers, and high-traction materials.
Emily Kane, professor of biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, co-authored the study with Syracuse University’s Austin Garner. “To avoid being swept away by currents, these fish need more than hydrodynamics—they need physical traction,” Kane explains. “Sculpins have reduced webbing on the lower portion of their pectoral fins, allowing the individual fin rays to extend and interact with surfaces like fingers. Some species even use them for walking or sensing.
”Previous studies had shown that sculpins use body shape and fin movements to create negative lift, helping them stay close to rocks. The new research adds another layer to this understanding: the fin rays themselves possess tiny surface textures that may create friction or micro-adhesion, enhancing grip underwater.
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Kane and her team first noticed these microstructures during fieldwork in Friday Harbor, Washington, in the summer of 2022. Using a scanning electron microscope, they discovered surface textures on the fin rays that resembled the fine hairs seen on gecko feet—an animal known for its exceptional clinging ability. This led Kane to collaborate with Garner, an expert in biological adhesion.
“My lab studies how animals interact with surfaces, especially those that rely on friction or adhesion,” says Garner, also a member of Syracuse's BioInspired Institute. “We used a comparative framework similar to that used in studies of lizards and sea urchins to analyze the sculpin fins.
”The team focused on measuring the density, surface area, and length of these microscopic structures. “When we compared our data with animals that produce grip through friction—think of sandpaper-like skin—we saw meaningful parallels,” Kane adds.
This study marks the first formal documentation of such microstructures on sculpin fin rays. “We’ve not only described their form, but also proposed testable hypotheses about how they might function,” Garner says. These hypotheses will guide future research, which could lead to new bio-inspired materials and designs.The practical implications are wide-reaching. Garner envisions these structures being mimicked in the design of underwater robots or gripping tools that can maintain a strong hold yet release easily—ideal for marine exploration or construction. The ability to replicate such grip in artificial environments could even enhance surgical tools or everyday adhesives.
As scientists continue to unravel the secrets of the sculpin’s natural design, they move closer to developing synthetic attachment technologies inspired by one of the ocean’s most unassuming survivalists.