Observations on the Springtail Leaping Organ and Jumping Mechanism Worked by a Spring

Sudo, Seiichi; Shiono, Masahiro; Kainuma, Toshiya; Shirai, Atsushi; Hayase, Toshiyuki

doi:10.5226/jabmech.3.92

Cited by 10 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The animals achieved a height of 6 mm during the jump. Apparently, all springtails exhibit a backward rotation, as shown by Christian [13] and Sudo et al [8,9]. Brackenbury and Hunt [14] hypothesized that this is explained by the position and length of the the furca, which ends below or in front of the body's center of mass.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…It has been suggested [8,9,13,14] that the strategies and mechanisms involved in jumping vary between species that have distinct segmentation and are cylindrical in shape (such as Orchesella cincta and Tomocerus spp. ), and those with fused segmentation which are globular in shape (such as Sminthurus spp.).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is widely accepted that the retinaculum acts as a trigger, and by holding the furca permits the creation of the spring mechanism [8][9][10][12][13][14]. According to Manton [10], the distension of the retinaculum is the result of the hydrostatic pressure generated by the trunk muscles, while its retraction is mediated by the action of the muscles directly connected to it (M.IIIa-ret).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One of the most remarkable features of these animals is their ability to jump in order to escape from predators, a feat only made possible by a highly sophisticated device (Fig. 1) [8,9]. Describing it superficially, this apparatus is essentially composed of a propulsion organ, the furca, and a retinaculum where the furca is held until the moment of the jump.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola): a morphofunctional study of the jumping apparatus

Oliveira

2022

Front Zool

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Background Springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) are tiny organisms that lead a hidden life, mostly occuring deep in the soil and on leaf litter. They have a variety of interesting body morphology patterns, the most famous of which is the catapult-like structure that enables them to jump and flee from predators. This highly specialized jumping apparatus consists of a mobile furca, which when at rest fits into a trigger, "the retinaculum" on the ventral side of the abdomen. Despite the many studies that have attempted to investigate the jumping apparatus, the actual mechanisms involved in the jump, for example the way in which the furca is released by the retinaculum, how and where the mechanisms of spring and hydrostatic pressure originate, are still not properly understood. The morphology of the jumping apparatus of Orchesella cincta was investigated in detail using confocal laser scanning microscopy and MicroCT techniques for 3D reconstruction. Results The morphology of O. cincta with both flexed and extended furca is analysed and described. The abdominal musculature involved in the jumping mechanism and relevant structures of the exoskeleton of retinaculum and furca are described in detail. With the data obtained in this study, hypotheses can be made about (1) where and how the spring and hydrostatic pressure mechanisms originate; (2) which muscles act on the extension and flexion of the furca; (3) which muscles act on the retinaculum and (4) how the retinaculum is released from the furca. Conclusions The comparative morphological study proved informative, and shows how springtail jumping involves mechanisms unique to this taxon. Hydrostatic pressure regulation possibly varies between animals with distinct segmentation, and those with fused segmentation. Interesting cuticular characters were revealed, such as basal plates and sclerites related to the construction of the spring mechanism. The present study establishes itself as a model option for future morphofunctional studies on springtail’s jumping. Analysis of videos and images using a high speed camera will be useful for understanding how the jump develops through take-off, aerial and landing phases.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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On springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola): a morphofunctional study of the jumping apparatus

Oliveira

2022

Front Zool

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“…Therefore, extensive investigations on the motion of a great many animals have been conducted [1][2][3]. Authors also have been studying the insect flight [4][5][6][7], insect swimming [8][9][10], and insect jump [11][12][13] from the view point of dynamics. Through our previous studies, authors noticed the importance of the jump in animal evolution from the land to the sky.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Motility and Locomotive Organs of Beach Flea

et al. 2015

Self Cite

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Abstract-Some semiterrestrial beach fleas are capable of swimming movement using their pleopods in water. Movements of swimming organ in beach flea were examined by high-speed video camera system. The structural properties of terrestrial beach flea pleopods were studied through the measurements of some morphological parameters. The swimming legs of the beach flea were examined with a color 3D laser scanning microscope. The relation between morphology of pleopod and motility of the beach flea was considered.Index Terms-Bio-mechanics, Hydrodynamics, Beach flea, Swimming, Motility I. INTRODUCTIONIn the developments of biomimetics and bionics, the study of various functions of animals is of fundamental interest and importance with respect to a variety of technical developments. The motility is an important discriminate characteristic of animals. Therefore, extensive investigations on the motion of a great many animals have been conducted [1][2][3]. Authors also have been studying the insect flight [4][5][6][7], insect swimming [8][9][10], and insect jump [11][12][13] from the view point of dynamics. Through our previous studies, authors noticed the importance of the jump in animal evolution from the land to the sky. For example, the springtails jump, and can be carried away to strong wind in the sky.Beach fleas are semiterrestrial, and they inhabit in coastal environments. In beach fleas, the usual way to move is by walking, but jumping is also used to escape from predators or disturbance. The jumping and swimming movements of beach fleas were analyzed by the high-speed video camera system in our previous report [11]. The report, however, presents the results within the limited analysis conditions. Research data on the structural properties and morphological parameters of swimming legs of the beach flea are insufficient and there still remains a large unexplored domain.In this paper, the details of swimming movements of pleopod and morphological parameters in the beach flea are presented. The swimming mechanisms of the beach flea are also discussed. The results obtained here should provide useful clues for future research and the development of micro swimming robots. II. EXPERIMENTAL APPARATUS AND PROCEDURES A. Swimming AnalysisThe experiments of the beach flea swimming were conducted by use of a high-speed video camera system (Photron FASTCAM SA5). A block diagram of the experimental apparatus is shown in Fig.1. The experimental apparatus consists of the water container system and the high-speed video camera system. The rectangular container made of the transparent acrylic plastic with dimension 58 mm in height and 7 mm × 54 mm wide was used for free and tethered swimming analyses. The water container is to keep twodimensional movements of beach flea swimming. The container was filled with water for swimming. Swimming movements of beach flea were analyzed in two dimensional coordinate system. A series of frames of free swimming of beach flea were analyzed by a personal computer. A series of frames of leg rowing of ...

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Directional takeoff, aerial righting, and adhesion landing of semiaquatic springtails

Ortega-Jimenez

Challita

Kim

et al. 2022

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Springtails (Collembola) have been traditionally portrayed as explosive jumpers with incipient directional takeoff and uncontrolled landing. However, for these collembolans that live near the water, such skills are crucial for evading a host of voracious aquatic and terrestrial predators. We discover that semiaquatic springtails, Isotomurus retardatus , can perform directional jumps, rapid aerial righting, and near-perfect landing on the water surface. They achieve these locomotive controls by adjusting their body attitude and impulse during takeoff, deforming their body in midair, and exploiting the hydrophilicity of their ventral tube, known as the collophore. Experiments and mathematical modeling indicate that directional-impulse control during takeoff is driven by the collophore’s adhesion force, the body angle, and the stroke duration produced by their jumping organ, the furcula. In midair, springtails curve their bodies to form a U-shape pose, which leverages aerodynamic forces to right themselves in less than ~20 ms, the fastest ever measured in animals. A stable equilibrium is facilitated by the water adhered to the collophore. Aerial righting was confirmed by placing springtails in a vertical wind tunnel and through physical models. Due to these aerial responses, springtails land on their ventral side ~85% of the time while anchoring via the collophore on the water surface to avoid bouncing. We validated the springtail biophysical principles in a bioinspired jumping robot that reduces in-flight rotation and lands upright ~75% of the time. Thus, contrary to common belief, these wingless hexapods can jump, skydive, and land with outstanding control that can be fundamental for survival.

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Observations on the Springtail Leaping Organ and Jumping Mechanism Worked by a Spring

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

On springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola): a morphofunctional study of the jumping apparatus

On springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola): a morphofunctional study of the jumping apparatus

On the Motility and Locomotive Organs of Beach Flea

Directional takeoff, aerial righting, and adhesion landing of semiaquatic springtails

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