Topic summary
Claws
Extracted from the Wikipedia article Claw.
Mammals
All carnivorans have claws, which vary considerably in length and shape. Claws grow out of the third phalanges of the paws and are made of keratin. Many predatory mammals have protractile claws that can partially hide inside the animal's paw, especially the cat family, Felidae, almost all of whose members have fully protractible claws. Protractible or retractible claws are also found in Viverridae, the extinct Nimravidae and Thylacoleonidae, Eupleridae, the foxes of Urocyon, Blanford's fox, and the Red Panda. A claw that is retractable is protected from wear and tear.