9 Incredible Technologies Inspired By Animals (PHOTOS, POLL)

Animals may not have iPods, or Android phones, or fancy laptop computers--but that hasn't stopped them from inspiring some of the world's most cutting edge innovation and new technology.

Check out the slideshow below to see some amazing ways engineers and scientists have been inspired by the animal kingdom. Vote for your favorite!

Blowfish

Mercedes-Benz's bionic concept car was inspired by the blowfish's shape and surprisingly sleek lines. According to National Geographic, wind-tunnel tests have shown off "car's aerodynamics, which helps boost its gas mileage to as high as 70 miles per gallon."

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Comments

[Nikevich]

12:09 AM on 11/03/2009

I'm old enough to remember reflectors before Scotchlite (TM of 3M) and daylight fluorescent pigments (Day-Glo, TM) were introduced. Highway signs had marble-sized glass bead reflectors embedded into them. However, daylight fl. pigments (sometimes called "neon", but they have very little to do with neon gas) had no earlier counterpart; they were amazing to see for the first time.

[Nikevich]

12:02 AM on 11/03/2009

Oops, should have proofread before it was posted. "...wooded areas", or "...woods" was probably what they meant. Interesting item! There are butterflies with antennae that can detect single molecules, and pit vipers sense IR with their pits.

[Nikevich]

11:59 PM on 11/02/2009

Title has a typo (or misspelling): It should be "Kingfisher". Please remove the extra "s".

[Happyexpat]

04:42 PM on 11/02/2009

Sitting here and smiling at the wonder of it all.

[FrTown]

10:43 AM on 11/02/2009

I hope no cats were harmed in the highway reflectors research.