Active and passive mechanics for rugose terrain traversal in centipedes.

ABSTRACT: Centipedes coordinate body and limb flexion to generate propulsion. On flat, solid surfaces, the limb-stepping patterns can be characterized according to the direction in which limb-aggregates propagate, opposite to (retrograde) or with the direction of motion (direct). It is unknown how limb and body dynamics are modified in terrain with terradynamic complexity more representative of these animal's natural heterogeneous environments. Here, we investigated how centipedes that use retrograde and direct limb-stepping patterns, Scolopendra polymorpha and Scolopocryptops sexspinosus, respectively, coordinate their body and limbs to navigate laboratory environments which present footstep challenges and terrain rugosity. We recorded the kinematics and measured the locomotive performance of these

SUBMITTER: Diaz K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10215817 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature