Speed dependent phase shifts and gait changes in cockroaches running on substrates of different slipperiness.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many legged animals change gaits when increasing speed. In insects, only one gait change has been documented so far, from slow walking to fast running, which is characterised by an alternating tripod. Studies on some fast-running insects suggested a further gait change at higher running speeds. Apart from speed, insect gaits and leg co-ordination have been shown to be influenced by substrate properties, but the detailed effects of speed and substrate on gait changes are still unclear. Here we investigate high-speed locomotion and gait changes of the cockroach Nauphoeta cinerea, on two substrates of different slipperiness.

Results

Analyses of leg co-ordination and body oscillations for straight and steady escape runs revealed that at high speeds, blaberid co

SUBMITTER: Weihmann T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5719566 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature