The walking gaits of some species of Pecora

Dagg, Anne Innis; Vos, Antoon de

doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1968.tb03031.x

Cited by 27 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Giraffes appear to diverge from the predictions of dynamic similarity at faster than walking speeds. Instead of using an intermediate speed gait, such as a trot, giraffes seemingly transition consistently from a walk to a rotary gallop (Dagg & Vos 1968;Maxwell 1924). The restricted choice of gait is in contrast to most other cursorial quadrupeds (Heglund & Taylor 1988;Hildebrand 1976), but not exclusive to giraffes; for example elephants use the lateral sequence walk across their entire speed range (Hutchinson et al 2006).…”

Section: Eqn 1 = 2 ℎmentioning

confidence: 99%

The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Basu

Deacon

Hutchinson

et al. 2018

Preprint

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The study of animal locomotion can be logistically challenging, especially in the case of large or unhandleable animals in uncontrolled environments. Recent technological advances have permitted the use of Global Positioning System and inertial sensors in locomotion studies, but these methods require manual access to each study subject. Here we demonstrate the utility of a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in measuring two-dimensional running kinematics from free-roaming giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) in the Free State Province, South Africa. We collected 120 Hz video of running giraffes, and calibrated each video frame using metatarsal length as a constant object of scale. We tested a number of methods to measure metatarsal length. The method with the least variation used close range photography and a trigonometric equation to spatially calibrate the still image, and derive metatarsal length. In the absence of this option, a spatially calibrated surface model of the study terrain was used to estimate topographical dimensions in video footage of interest. Data for the terrain models were collected using the same equipment, during the same study period. We subsequently validated the accuracy of the UAV method by comparing similar speed measurements of a running human subject, with a gold standard method. We recommend that future users maximise the camera focal distance, and keep the subject in the central field of view. The studied giraffes used a grounded rotary gallop with a speed range of 3.4 to 6.9 ms-1 (never cantering, trotting or pacing), and lower duty factors when compared with other cursorial quadrupeds. As this pattern might result in adverse increases in peak vertical limb forces with speed, it was notable to find that contralateral limbs became more in-phase with speed. Considering the latter pattern and the modest maximal speed of giraffes, we speculate that tissue safety factors are maintained within tolerable bounds this way. Furthermore, the angular kinematics of the neck were frequently isolated from the pitching of the body during running; this may be a result of the large mass of the head and neck. Further field experiments and biomechanical models are needed to robustly test these speculations.

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Section: Eqn 1 = 2 ℎmentioning

confidence: 99%

The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Basu

Deacon

Hutchinson

et al. 2018

Preprint

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show abstract

“…From the study of locomotor behaviour, much is known about the gait patterns, footfall sequences, timing, speed, and support patterns for a wide variety of vertebrate species (e.g. Dagg, 1973;Dagg & de Vos, 1968;Hildebrand, 1959Hildebrand, , 1965Hildebrand, , 1967Hildebrand, ,1968Howell, 1965;Zug, 1972). However, little is known about changing gait behaviour as an animal matures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postnatal development of gait behaviour and functional allometry in the domestic cat (Felis catus)

Peters

1983

Journal of Zoology

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The gaits of domestic kittens between one week and six months of age were analysed according to the methods of Hildebrand (1976, 1977) to determine how gait preference and performance changes during normal ontogeny. Allometric growth of the limb segments was measured so that mechanical effects on gait behaviour could be described. Gait behaviour during ontogeny follows a pattern of increasing precision and diversity that parallels the attainment of neuromuscular maturity: one‐ and two‐week old kittens use very slow, stable walking gaits. By three weeks of age, walking patterns are more diverse and kittens begin to trot. At four weeks, animals are trotting more readily and begin to use slow gallops. Neuromuscular maturity is attained by about six weeks of age and these animals use all of the gaits common to adults. Evidence that the ontogeny of behaviour reflects a recapitulation of neural evolution is discussed. Important mechanical changes occur in the posture and limb proportions of kittens during ontogeny that markedly affect their gait performance. Until six weeks of age, kittens are plantigrade or semiplantigrade, resulting in functionally shortened limbs. The foot segments were found to be relatively long in kittens up to 12 weeks of age. While plantigrade, these long feet provide large bases of support, but are awkward to move heel‐to‐toe, and may contribute to the need for the most stable footfall patterns in young kittens. With fully digitigrade posture achieved between six to eight weeks of age, the long foot segments result in relatively longer limbs. At eight weeks, this is reflected in their preference for the pace while walking to avoid interference between ipsilateral limbs. These behavioural modifications of gait patterns in response to transient mechanical constraints support a facultative view of neural control.

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“…A study involving simulations of quadrupedal gaits also suggested that giraffes will select a pacing gait at intermediate speeds (Suzuki et al 2016); however this model inaccurately predicted that giraffes use a diagonal sequence walk at slow speeds, contrasting with the experimentally observed lateral sequence walk (Basu et al 2018). Giraffes instead seemingly transition consistently from a walk to a rotary gallop (Dagg & Vos 1968;Maxwell 1924). The restricted choice of gait is in contrast to most other cursorial quadrupeds (Heglund & Taylor 1988;Hildebrand 1976), but not exclusive to giraffes; for example elephants use the lateral sequence walk across their entire speed range (Hutchinson et al 2006).…”

Section: Eqn 1 = 2 ℎmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #2 of "The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (v0.1)"

Clemente¹

2019

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The study of animal locomotion can be logistically challenging, especially in the case of large or unhandleable animals in uncontrolled environments. Here we demonstrate the utility of a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in measuring two-dimensional running kinematics from free-roaming giraffes in the Free State Province, South Africa. We collected 120 Hz video of running giraffes, and calibrated each video frame using metatarsal length as a constant object of scale. We tested a number of methods to measure metatarsal length. The method with the least variation used close range photography and a trigonometric equation to spatially calibrate the still image, and derive metatarsal length. In the absence of this option, a spatially calibrated surface model of the study terrain was used to estimate topographical dimensions in video footage of interest. Data for the terrain models were collected using the same equipment, during the same study period. We subsequently validated the accuracy of the UAV method by comparing similar speed measurements of a human subject running on a treadmill, with treadmill speed. At 8 m focal distance we observed an error of 8% between the two measures of speed. This error was greater at a shorter focal distance, and when the subject was not in the central field of view. We recommend that future users maximise the camera focal distance, and keep the subject in the central field of view.

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The walking gaits of some species of Pecora

Cited by 27 publications

References 3 publications

The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)

Postnatal development of gait behaviour and functional allometry in the domestic cat (Felis catus)

Peer Review #2 of "The running kinematics of free-roaming giraffes, measured using a low cost unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (v0.1)"

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