Geckos significantly alter foot orientation to facilitate adhesion during downhill locomotion.

ABSTRACT: Geckos employ their adhesive system when moving up an incline, but the directionality of the system may limit function on downhill surfaces. Here, we use a generalist gecko to test whether limb modulation occurs on downhill slopes to allow geckos to take advantage of their adhesive system. We examined three-dimensional limb kinematics for geckos moving up and down a 45° slope. Remarkably, the hind limbs were rotated posteriorly on declines, resulting in digit III of the pes facing a more posterior direction (opposite to the direction of travel). No significant changes in limb orientation were found in any other condition. This pes rotation leads to a dramatic shift in foot function that facilitates the use of the adhesive system as a brake/stabilizer during downhill locomotion and, althoug

SUBMITTER: Birn-Jeffery AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4272200 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature