Animal Sciences Commons^™

Measuring Bite Force In Small Mammals With A Piezo-Resistive Sensor, Patricia W. Freeman, Cliff A. Lemen

University of Nebraska State Museum: Mammalogy Papers

We tested the use of piezo-resistive force sensors to measure bite force in small mammals. These force sensors are thin (less than 1 mm) and can be used to measure forces up to 4,500 N. A battery-operated unit, ideal for field research, can be built easily and inexpensively. We tested this sensor in the laboratory and in the field on a variety of small mammals. Although our results indicate that the sensor is somewhat less accurate (coefficient of variation = 4%) than a conventional load cell, the small size and ease of use of the piezo-resistive detector is highly desirable. …