Talk:Salamander/@comment-96.246.82.141-20160707164849/@comment-27950421-20160714214203

The force from the blow has to travel through the scales to hit flesh. While the scales will transmit force far better than the flesh there will still be some force lost as it goes through, the blow must be strong enough to not only damage the internal flesh but also conpensate for the force lost in the scales. Given that when you strike an object, and equal and opposite force is generated and none of the force is being lost before entering the hinezunis hand, the problem of the himezumi injuring herself still remains. The Himezumi has to go for the soft targets on the Salamnder or she will injure herself. At the same time the salamnders sword and claws can cause just as much if not more damage for much less effort as they are cutting and stabbing instead of relying on blunt force trauma. The fact that flesh absorbs kinetic force is pointless because while it absorbs kinetic force really well, it is also very easy to puncture and cut.

I'm not doubting what you said in the myth, but the tails of large lizards are built to be used as a whip. It's pretty much the favored defense against predators amongst reptiles that aren't snakes or turtles. The rats tail is too flexible, it can't transmit force for shit. Where as a lizards tail is built to get that nice crack, you want to see in a whip. Not to mention huge difference in muscle power between the two tails.