Animals must continually respond dynamically as they move through complex environments,
and slopes are a common terrain on which legged animals must move. Despite this, non …

Attachment is imperative for many biological functions, such as holding position and
climbing, but can be challenged by natural conditions. Adhesive toe pads and claws have …

Animals can undergo significant weight change for a variety of reasons. Autotomy, the
voluntary shedding of an appendage in response to a predator stimulus, provides an …

Innovations permit the diversification of lineages, but they may also impose functional
constraints on behaviors such as locomotion. Thus, it is not surprising that secondary …

Tails are an intricate component of the locomotor system for many vertebrates. Leopard
geckos (Eublepharis macularius) possess a large tail that is laterally undulated during …

Chameleons so easily capture the imagination, and have done so for centuries. In scientific
writings, they first appear with Aristotle (350 BC), and although they were recognized as …

The modulation of the neural output to forelimb and hindlimb muscles when the left and right
sides step at different speeds from one another in quadrupeds was assessed by obtaining …

The excellent locomotion ability of geckos on various rough and/or inclined substrates has
attracted scientists' attention for centuries. However, the moving ability of gecko-mimicking …

Arboreal supports impose a set of locomotor challenges not typically encountered in other
terrestrial ecosystems. Because all arboreal animals must negotiate this common set of …

Arboreal environments require overcoming navigational challenges not typically
encountered in other terrestrial habitats. Supports are unevenly distributed and vary in …