Scaling and relations of morphology with locomotor kinematics in the sidewinder rattlesnake Crotalus cerastes.

ABSTRACT: The movement of limbless terrestrial animals differs fundamentally from that of limbed animals, yet few scaling studies of their locomotor kinematics and morphology are available. We examined scaling and relations of morphology and locomotion in sidewinder rattlesnakes (Crotalus cerastes). During sidewinding locomotion, a snake lifts sections of its body up and forward while other sections maintain static ground contact. We used high-speed video to quantify whole-animal speed and acceleration; the height to which body sections are lifted; and the frequency, wavelength, amplitude and skew angle (degree of tilting) of the body wave. Kinematic variables were not sexually dimorphic, and most did not deviate from isometry, except wave amplitude. Larger sidewinders were not faster, contrary to m

SUBMITTER: Tingle JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9080748 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature