User:Swpb/m/List of biological and technological analogs

This is a list of human technologies with functional analogs in the living world.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Technologie	Biological analogs	Typ	References
Accelerometer	Otolith	sensory
Adhesive		chemical
Air filter		mechanical
Amplifier		computation/control
Anchor		mechanical
Antenna		sensory
Anvil		mechanical
Arch/dome	Eggshell	mechanical, structural
Armor		mechanical
Awl		mechanical
Belay		mechanical
Binoculars		sensory
Buttress		mechanical, structural
Camera		sensory
Camouflage	Camouflage	communication
Chemical weapon	Skunk spray, venom	chemical
Chisel		mechanical
Compass		sensory
Computer memory	Memory	computation/control
Control loop		computation/control
Data processing		computation/control
Drinking straw	Elephant trunk	mechanical
Dwelling/house	Nest	behavioral
Evaporative cooler		mechanical
Filter (signal processing)		computation/control
Fly swatter		mechanical
Gear	Gear mechanism of planthoppers	mechanical, locomotive
Gyroscope	Semicircular canal system	sensory
Hammer		mechanical
Hook	Claw	mechanical
Hypergolic propellant	Bombardier beetle spray	chemical
Integrator		computation/control
Knife/wedge		mechanical
Lance/spear		mechanical
Lens	Lens	sensory
Lens cap/wipe	Eyelid	mechanical
Ebene	Otolith	sensory
Lighting	Bioluminescence	communication
Lubricant	Saliva, synovial fluid	mechanical
Lure	Lure of anglerfish	communication
Microphone/pressure transducer	Organ of Corti	sensory
Net	Spider web	mechanical
Paddle		mechanical, hydrodynamic, locomotive
Parabolic reflector		sensory
Projectile		mechanical
Propeller	Flagellum	mechanical, hydrodynamic, locomotive
Pump	Heart	mechanical, hydrodynamic
Radiator		thermodynamic
Rasp		mechanical
Saw/serrated blade		mechanical
Shovel/spoon		mechanical
Sieve/strainer	Baleen	mechanical
Smoke screen	Cephalopod ink	communication
Snorkel	Elephant trunk	mechanical
Solar panel	Photosynthesis	electro-chemical
Sonar	Echolocation	sensory
Spring		mechanical
Suction cup	Sucker (cephalopod anatomy)	mechanical
Trap		mechanical
Tread		mechanical, locomotive
Truss		mechanical, structural
Valve	Blowhole, heart valve	mechanical, hydrodynamic
Wheel	See: Rotating locomotion in living systems	mechanical, locomotive
Wind instrument	Vocal chord	mechanical, communication
Wing	Bat wing, bird wing, insect wing	mechanical, hydrodynamic, locomotive
Wire	Nerve	electro-chemical