简介：Biomaterialssuchasbone,teeth,nacreandsilkareknowntohavesuperiormechanicalpropertiesduetotheirspecificnanocompositestructures.Herewereportthatthewoodpecker’stongueexhibitsanovelstrengthandflexibilityduetoitsspecialcompositemicro/nanostructure.Thetongueconsistsofaflexiblecartilage-and-boneskeletoncoveredwithathinlayertissueofhighstrengthandelasticity.Attheinterfacebetweenthecartilage-and-boneskeletonandthetissuelayer,thereisahierarchicalfiber-typedconnection.Itisthisspecialdesignofthetonguethatmakesthewoodpeckersefficientincatchingtheinsectsinsidetrees.Thespecialmicro/nanostructuresofthewoodpecker’stongueshowusapotentialmethodtoenhancetheinterfacialconnectionbetweensoftandhardmateriallayersforbio-inspiredcompositesystemdesigns.