Snap-jaw morphology is specialized for high-speed power amplification in the Dracula ant, Mystrium camillae.

ABSTRACT: What is the limit of animal speed and what mechanisms produce the fastest movements? More than natural history trivia, the answer provides key insight into the form-function relationship of musculoskeletal movement and can determine the outcome of predator-prey interactions. The fastest known animal movements belong to arthropods, including trap-jaw ants, mantis shrimp and froghoppers, that have incorporated latches and springs into their appendage systems to overcome the limits of muscle power. In contrast to these examples of power amplification, where separate structures act as latch and spring to accelerate an appendage, some animals use a 'snap-jaw' mechanism that incorporates the latch and spring on the accelerating appendage itself. We examined the kinematics and functional morpholo

SUBMITTER: Larabee FJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6304126 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature