Articles tagged with Animal Locomotion
Research reveals eight spider families preying on fish worldwide, with diverse species adapting to aquatic environments to catch fish even larger than themselves. Semi-aquatic spiders possess powerful neurotoxins and enzymes to kill and digest their prey.
Researchers studied a rat's balancing strategy to lateral impact, finding it bends flexible body to absorb energy and resists force through side-sway. The study reveals key mechanisms for animal stability during locomotion and inspires improvements in bionic robots.
Researchers identified key neurons in the spinal cord responsible for controlling rhythmic walking movements. V2b interneurons were found to be essential for flexor-extensor alternation, a fundamental component of locomotion.
A study on wild green anole lizards reveals that the link between muscle function and movement is more complicated than previously thought. The researchers found that changes in motion do not always correspond to changes in muscle activity, leading to new questions about animal ecology, evolution, and adaptation.
Researchers discovered that fish use a counterintuitive fin arrangement to increase both stability and maneuverability. By analyzing slow-motion videos and mathematical models, the team found that the opposing forces generated by the fin movements create stabilizing forces while improving velocity change.
A research team led by Johns Hopkins engineers discovered that animals use opposing forces in their movements to increase both stability and maneuverability. This biomimetic approach is found in fish, hummingbirds, and bees, and could simplify designs for small robots that fly, swim, or move on mechanical legs.
Researchers from the University of Manchester successfully recreated the walking and running movements of Argentinosaurus using computer simulations. The study provides new insights into the dinosaur's locomotion ability, dispelling previous suggestions that it was inflated in size.
Researchers found that controlling inflammation in the lower spinal cord is critical to the success of treadmill training after a spinal cord injury. Early training with minimal inflammation led to significant improvements in walking, lasting up to 42 days, while late training failed to produce similar results.
Researchers found that pregnant sows housed on rubber slat mats had a reduced risk of swelling and wounds on the limbs, but an increased risk of sole and heel lesions. The study suggests that rubber slat mats could improve animal well-being by reducing locomotory problems in swine.
Researchers analyzed terrestrial locomotion in tiger salamanders and mudskipper fish, finding that pectoral fins experience more medial forces than forelimbs. This suggests that early amphibious fish with fins may not have been capable of supporting their weight on land.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have identified two genetically-defined groups of nerve cells in the spinal cord that control limb alternation at different speeds of locomotion. The study found that these cell populations are essential for normal gait, and their removal disrupts the animals' ability to walk.
The study reveals that species with low muscle activation frequency and high body stiffness are most successful in swimming. The researchers found the optimal values for each property, including a predicted stiffness similar to that of undulatory swimmers with a backbone.
Researchers found that the southeastern US region could experience heavier animal movements in response to a warming climate, with estimates up to 2.5 times higher than average species movement across North and South America. The study identified natural corridors and human-made barriers that will affect animal migration patterns.
The 'cheetah-cub robot' boasts excellent auto-stabilization characteristics and can run nearly seven times its body length in one second. Its design is based on the meticulous observation of feline leg morphology, featuring springs to reproduce tendons and actuators to replace muscles.
Researchers found that prehistoric artwork showed a significantly lower rate of incorrect leg positioning compared to modern art, highlighting the accuracy of cavemen's animal depictions.
Scientists developed the first laboratory system to evaluate pile driving's effect on fish, finding individual blows above a certain sound level can irreparably harm them. The recommended sound threshold aims to minimize harm to marine animals while permitting ocean development.
Studies by University of Gothenburg researcher Daniel Gustafsson reveal that body lice can spread more easily than wing lice, defying expectations. Genetic data shows that almost identical body lice are found on most sandpipers worldwide, highlighting the importance of migration patterns and host bird size.
Researchers from Harvard University found that shark skin's denticles create a low-pressure zone that enhances propulsion, reducing drag. Swimsuits with similar surface properties have no effect on swim speed.
A new search-and-rescue robot, Scalybot 2, is designed to use less energy and navigate tight spaces like snakes. The robot replicates rectilinear locomotion, a efficient movement method that allows snakes to crawl through crevices with minimal energy expenditure.
African lungfish demonstrates unique walking behavior using its thin pelvic limbs, propelling itself forward and lifting its body off the bottom surface. This discovery suggests that many developments necessary for the transition from water to land could have occurred in lobe-finned ancestors of the lungfish long before early tetrapods.
A newly discovered fossil of a mosasaur, with well-preserved soft tissue, is providing scientists with unique insights into the biology of an extinct marine lizard. The study found that the mosasaur was able to minimize its frictional drag in the water and relied on its tail for propulsion.
A University of Tennessee microbiologist is working on a biofilter to remove harmful algal toxins from water. The project aims to reduce the risk of toxins passing into water distribution systems and restore safe water resources.
Researchers are studying early reptiles' movement using a fast X-ray video system and comparing it with modern animals. The goal is to create animated studies of the early saurians and gain insights into their movements.
Researchers tracked three shark species and found tiger and thresher sharks can swim directly to targeted locations, suggesting a 'mental map' of the area. The study suggests these animals use magnetic fields as landmarks to navigate.
Researchers found that tiger sharks can navigate long distances using directed walks, while thresher sharks also exhibit this behavior. Blacktip reef sharks, on the other hand, swim randomly within their small home ranges.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University are studying the neurological functioning of cockroaches to design more efficient robots with compact builds. The insects' stable tripod gate movement and ability to adapt to terrain inspire robotics engineers to create faster and more robust robots for future space exploration.
A study led by Dr. Andrej Romanovsky found that mice with TRPV1-deficient receptors exhibited higher locomotor activity, especially during the day, suggesting a suppressive effect of TRPV1 on physical movement.
Biologists at Tufts University have discovered a novel 'two-body' system of locomotion in the crawling tobacco hawkmoth caterpillar, where its gut moves independently of the surrounding body wall. This finding may offer valuable insights for designing soft-bodied robots and re-examining the role of soft tissues in human biomechanics.
Researchers argue that differences in body types among blacks and whites, including the location of their center of gravity, contribute to racial disparities in athletic performance. The study found black sprinters are 1.5% faster than whites due to a higher center of gravity.
Research suggests that ostriches' wing-use and hindlimb function may help reconstruct locomotor techniques in bipedal dinosaurs. The study found that ostriches efficiently channel aerodynamic forces during rapid breaking, turning, and zigzag manoeuvres.
A Duke University engineer, Adrian Bejan, argues that animal movement is like a natural wheel, distributing stresses uniformly. As animals evolve to move better, they develop fewer legs, allowing them to rise higher with each stride and increase their speed.
Researchers identified a previously unknown brainstem pathway in vertebrates, which stimulates neural activity and locomotion. This finding suggests new research directions for treating Parkinson's disease, particularly targeting the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
A new strain of mosquitoes, where females cannot fly, may help curb the spread of dengue fever. The genetic approach is expected to reduce or eliminate disease transmission in six to nine months.
Researchers measure forces exerted on elephants to determine their movement patterns, finding that high-speed elephants exhibit characteristics of both running and walking. The study reveals that elephants' cost of transport is low due to efficient energy conversion, with a step frequency higher than expected.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have created a genetically modified mouse that can walk when exposed to blue light. The study provides insight into the neural control of locomotion and has potential implications for treating spinal cord injuries.
Scientists at Michigan State University are developing robotic fish that use advanced materials to swim like fish and monitor water quality. The robots will carry sensors recording temperature, dissolved oxygen, pollutants, and harmful algae, providing a high spatial and temporal resolution of data.
A new analysis by Duke University engineers found that elite athletes are getting bigger and faster, with the fastest swimmers growing 4.5 inches and the swiftest runners growing 6.4 inches taller since 1900. This trend can be predicted by the constructal theory of design in nature.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology studied sandfish locomotion, finding they use wave motion to propel themselves through granular media. The animals' speed depends only on wave frequency, not density.
A water snake from South East Asia has developed an unusual hunting technique that startles fish into fleeing towards its head. The snake uses sound waves to trigger the fish's 'C-start' response, driving them to swim directly into its jaws.
A recent study published in Current Biology found that anatomists and others incorrectly depict quadruped walking in half of their depictions. The correct gait involves alternating legs, with animals differing only in timing. This mistake is often due to carelessness or reliance on incorrect models.
The study analyzed the angular rotation of gecko joints during locomotion on horizontal surfaces, revealing spatio-temporal rotation trajectories. It also compared the movement patterns of geckos on vertical walls, showing differences in joint angles and limb phases.
V3 neurons play a vital role in maintaining balance between both sides of the body, ensuring robust stepping rhythms. The discovery provides an important milestone in understanding neural circuitry that coordinates walking movements.
Research reveals that elephant legs are much bendier than Shakespeare's depiction, with joints flexing significantly during locomotion. Studies also show that the animals' mobility range is comparable to that of trotting horses.
A recent study found that walking therapy for stroke survivors is significantly more effective when conducted by a physical therapist, improving walking speed and symmetry. Human-assisted interventions allow for patient error and harder work, leading to better outcomes.
A newly found fish in Indonesian waters has sparked excitement among scientists due to its unique appearance and possible connection to an unknown family. The fish, resembling a glass sculpture, can burrow into crevices with its soft and pliable body, and its eyes appear to be directed forward.
A research team has discovered a fundamental adaptive mechanism linking an animal's locomotion to its sensory systems. The study found that the dimensions of the three semicircular canals in the inner ear are linked to the type of movement produced by an animal's limbs.
Using tropical fish, researchers discovered the brain processes sensory information to control movement. The study sheds light on the communication between the brain and body, potentially contributing to medical advances in humans.
Researchers used emus to decipher dinosaur tracks at the Red Gulch Dinosaur Tracksite in Wyoming. The birds' behavior revealed that dinosaurs likely stopped and observed their environment while walking, resolving a mysterious 'crossing over' track pattern.
Researchers develop polymer tape to simulate insect adhesive pads, revealing optimal leg attachment forces on smooth ceilings. The findings inspire wall and ceiling walking machines with micropatterned polymer feet.
Research reveals that fish larvae can't maintain a horizontal body position while coasting, leading to increased drag and poor swimming abilities. This conclusion refutes previous theories on poor hatchling swimming, providing new insights into pectoral fin development and swimbladder formation.
A recent restudy and reconstruction of a Mongolian sauropod skull adds to evidence for sauropod diversity at the end of the dinosaur era. The discovery highlights the existence of titanosaurs, a late surviving sauropod lineage that flourished during this period.
Dietmar Kueltz's team discovered genetic switches that enable certain fish to thrive in both freshwater and saltwater environments. These switches, involving transcription factors, allow the fish to resist stress and potentially survive other environmental challenges like climate change.
Researchers at Tufts University are developing a flexible robot that can navigate through the human body and complex structures, inspired by the unique movement of caterpillars. The team is studying the nervous system control of caterpillar locomotion to replicate this movement and build soft-bodied robots.
Researchers found that Asian elephants can move at speeds of up to 15 mph, with some individuals reaching 50% faster than previously recorded speeds. This gait, dubbed "Groucho running", meets the biomechanical definition of running, where the center of mass appears to bounce and the footfall pattern is different from walking.
Scientists discovered that early mammals used epipubic bones to stiffen their bodies during trotting steps, allowing for increased mobility and locomotor efficiency. This finding suggests that the development of these bones contributed significantly to the evolution of mammals.
Researchers found that waddling actually helps penguins save energy by using their leg muscles more efficiently. They also discovered that penguins are not inefficient walkers because of their gait, but rather due to the short length of their legs.
The discovery of a 170-million-year-old dinosaur tracksite in the Gypsum Spring Formation sheds light on the geographic distribution of dinosaurs during the Middle Jurassic period. The site preserves evidence that some dinosaurs may have been swimmers, with estimated speeds of up to 9.2 kilometers per hour.
The UC San Diego team, led by captain Scott Ketcham, aims to shatter the Human Powered Vehicle Association's non-propeller world speed record. The SubSonic submarine features a dolphin-inspired design with vectored thrust and dynamic ballast tanks for propulsion.