Stability During Arboreal Locomotion

Lammers, Andrew R.; Zürcher, Ulrich

doi:10.5772/23751

Cited by 6 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…We also observed that arboreal species tend to have stronger wrist flexors. These muscles are responsible for wrist and finger flexion, and thus, possibly allow a better grip on the substrate (Preuschoft, 2002;Lammers & Zurcher, 2011). However, during climbing, arboreal species vary in the use of their forelimb.…”

Section: Distribution Of the Species In The Myological Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Convergence in the functional properties of forelimb muscles in carnivorans: adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle?

Taverne¹,

Fabre²,

Herbin³

et al. 2018

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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The arboreal environment is complex and irregular and imposes significant constraints on the locomotor ability of vertebrates, resulting in morphological adaptations. Carnivorans are of particular interest because they radiated several times independently into the arboreal milieu, leading to convergence in long bone anatomy. We investigated whether the forelimb muscles show differences in arboreal vs. terrestrial species and tested for convergence in muscle architecture. To do so, we studied the forelimb muscles in 17 species of carnivorans with different locomotor modes (arboreal and terrestrial). Our results showed that the forelimb musculature evolved in a convergent manner in arboreal species, resulting in more forceful and heavier wrist rotators and elbow flexors, even when accounting for phylogeny. This suggests that selective forces imposed by the environment drive the evolution of the muscular system towards a convergent phenotype that provides a functional advantage for locomotion in the complex threedimensional arboreal habitat.

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Section: Distribution Of the Species In The Myological Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Convergence in the functional properties of forelimb muscles in carnivorans: adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle?

Taverne¹,

Fabre²,

Herbin³

et al. 2018

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

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“…When walking on a horizontal surface, A. vagrans use a gait that is classified as a diagonal couplet, lateral sequence walk (notated as RH, LF/LH, RF; Lammers and Zurcher, 2011). In contrast, when walking on a vertical surface, A. vagrans typically use a single-foot lateral sequence walk (when the foot to move after the hindfoot is the forefoot on the same side of the body and the steps are evenly spaced in time; Hildebrand, 1976; notated as RH, RF, LH, LF).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Vertical locomotion in the arboreal salamander Aneides vagrans

Aretz

Deban

2021

Journal of Zoology

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Salamanders are often used as a model of early tetrapod locomotion, due to their generalized tetrapod body plan. We imaged five individuals of wandering salamander, Aneides vagrans, during horizontal and vertical locomotion and compared kinematic and gait adjustments made to compensate for each condition. We used ImageJ to calculate duty factor, stride length, stride frequency, contralateral foot spread, heading of climbing, and forward velocity. Like other terrestrial salamanders, A. vagrans use a diagonal couplet, lateral sequence walk on horizontal surfaces. When walking vertically, however, they use a single-foot gait, taking smaller steps and extending the duty factor compared with level walking. Salamanders adjusted their limbs to have a wider contralateral foot spread between fore-and hindfeet when walking downward as compared to walking upward or horizontally. These gait adjustments may minimize the risk of slipping or falling by increasing the number of contact points during the stride cycle, and by bringing their center of mass closer to the surface. We found that salamanders moved at a significantly faster velocity when traveling horizontally compared to vertically. Furthermore, we found no significant difference between upward and downward velocity, despite greater stride lengths in upward locomotion; this was explained by a higher stride frequency in downward locomotion. We estimate travel time up or down an oldgrowth redwood tree to be on the scale of hours, a significant time investment that may encourage alternatives when available. These results suggest that, in an ecological context, while salamanders are capable of traveling straight down a redwood tree, they may simply tend to jump.

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“…Previous studies have documented slower movement on narrower substrates in various arboreal chameleons, including Bradypodion pumilum (Higham et al, 2015), Chamaeleo dilepis , and Trioceros jacksonii (Losos et al, 1993). The use of slower speeds on narrow substrates may be a mechanism to increase static stability (Lammers & Biknevicius, 2004; Lammers & Gauntner, 2008; Lammers & Zurcher, 2011). Alternatively, relatively slow gaits may also be a mechanism to reduce predation risk/predatory success via crypsis (Bian et al, 2016; Huffard, 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Trioceros jacksonii (Losos et al, 1993). The use of slower speeds on narrow substrates may be a mechanism to increase static stability (Lammers & Biknevicius, 2004;Lammers & Gauntner, 2008;Lammers & Zurcher, 2011). Alternatively, relatively slow gaits may also be a mechanism to reduce predation risk/predatory success via crypsis (Bian et al, 2016;Huffard, 2006).…”

Section: Spatiotemporal Gait Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Locomotor characteristics of the ground‐walking chameleonBrookesia superciliaris

Ekhator

Varshney²,

Young

et al. 2023

J Exp Zool Pt A

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Understanding the locomotor characteristics of early diverging ground‐walking chameleons (members of the genera Brookesia, Rhampholeon, Palleon, and Rieppeleon) can help to explain how their unique morphology is adapted to fit their environment and mode of life. However, nearly all quantitative studies of chameleon locomotion thus far have focused on the larger “true arboreal” chameleons. We investigated kinematics and spatiotemporal gait characteristics of the Brown Leaf Chameleon (Brookesia superciliaris) on different substrates and compared them with true arboreal chameleons, nonchameleon lizards, and other small arboreal animals. Brookesia exhibits a combination of locomotor traits, some of which are traditionally arboreal, others more terrestrial, and a few that are very unusual. Like other chameleons, Brookesia moved more slowly on narrow dowels than on broad planks (simulating arboreal and terrestrial substrates, respectively), and its speed was primarily regulated by stride frequency rather than stride length. While Brookesia exhibits the traditionally arboreal trait of a high degree of humeral protraction at the beginning of stance, unlike most arboreal tetrapods, it uses smaller shoulder and hip excursions on narrower substrates, possibly reflecting its more terrestrial habits. When moving at very slow speeds, Brookesia often adopts an unusual footfall pattern, lateral‐sequence lateral‐couplets. Because Brookesia is a member of one of the earliest‐diverging groups of chameleons, its locomotion may provide a good model for an intermediate stage in the evolution of arboreal chameleons. Thus, the transition to a fully arboreal way of life in “true arboreal” chameleons may have involved changes in spatiotemporal and kinematic characteristics as well as morphology.

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Stability During Arboreal Locomotion

Cited by 6 publications

References 32 publications

Convergence in the functional properties of forelimb muscles in carnivorans: adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle?

Convergence in the functional properties of forelimb muscles in carnivorans: adaptations to an arboreal lifestyle?

Vertical locomotion in the arboreal salamander Aneides vagrans

Locomotor characteristics of the ground‐walking chameleonBrookesia superciliaris

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