Parallel And Divergent Morphological Adaptations Underlying The Evolution of Jumping Ability in Ants.

ABSTRACT: Jumping is a rapid locomotory mode widespread in terrestrial organisms. However, it is a rare specialization in ants. Forward jumping has been reported within four distantly related ant genera: Gigantiops, Harpegnathos, Myrmecia, and Odontomachus. The temporal engagement of legs/body parts during jump, however, varies across these genera. It is unknown what morphological adaptations underlie such behaviors and whether jumping in ants is solely driven directly by muscle contraction or additionally relies on elastic recoil mechanism. We investigated the morphological adaptations for jumping behavior by comparing differences in the locomotory musculature between jumping and non-jumping relatives using X-ray micro-CT and 3D morphometrics. We found that the size-specific volumes o

SUBMITTER: Aibekova L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10401624 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature