Journal article
Tail base deflection but not tail curvature varies with speed in lizards: results from an automated tracking analysis pipeline
Integrative & Comparative Biology, Vol.61(5), pp.1769-1782
2021
PMID: 34009307
Abstract
Tail movement is an important component of vertebrate locomotion, and likely contributes to dynamic stability during steady-state locomotion. Previous results suggest that the tail plays a significant role in lizard locomotion, but little data are available on tail motion during locomotion and how it differs with morphological, ecological, and phylogenetic parameters. We collected high-speed vertical climbing and horizontal locomotion video data from 43 lizard species from 4 taxonomic groups (Agamidae, Gekkota, Scincidae, Varanidae) and 4 habitats. We introduce a new semi-automated and generalizable analysis pipeline for tail and spine motion analysis including markerless pose-estimation, semi-automated kinematic recognition, and muti-species data analysis. We found that step length relative to SVL increased with tail length relative to SVL. Examining spine cycles agnostic to limb stride phase, we found that ranges of inter-tail bending compared to inter-spine bending increased with relative tail length while ranges of tail deflection relative to spine deflection increased with relative speed. Considering stepwise strides, we found the angular velocity and acceleration of the tail center of mass 2 increased with relative speed. These results will provide general insights into the biomechanics of tails in sprawling locomotion enabling biomimetic applications in robotics, and a better understanding of vertebrate form and function. We look forward to adding more species, behaviors, and locomotor speeds to our analysis pipeline through collaboration with other research groups.
Details
- Title
- Tail base deflection but not tail curvature varies with speed in lizards: results from an automated tracking analysis pipeline
- Authors
- Johanna T Schultz (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringBob Cieri (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringTasmin Proost (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and EngineeringRishab Pilai (Author) - James Cook UniversityMitchell Hodgson (Author) - UNSW SydneyFabian Plum (Author) - Imperial College LondonChristofer Clemente (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Publication details
- Integrative & Comparative Biology, Vol.61(5), pp.1769-1782
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Date published
- 2021
- DOI
- 10.1093/icb/icab037
- ISSN
- 1557-7023; 1540-7063
- PMID
- 34009307
- Copyright note
- This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Integrative & Comparative Biology following peer review. The version of record Johanna T Schultz, Robert L Cieri, Tasmin Proost, Rishab Pilai, Mitchell Hodgson, Fabian Plum, Christofer J Clemente, Tail Base Deflection but not Tail Curvature Varies with Speed in Lizards: Results from an Automated Tracking Analysis Pipeline, Integrative and Comparative Biology, Volume 61, Issue 5, November 2021, Pages 1769–1782, https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icab037 is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/icb/icab037
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99533108102621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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