The effect of change in mass distribution due to defensive posture on gait in fat‐tailed scorpions

摘要: In terrestrial legged locomotion, the distribution of mass can influence gait characteristics. This be due to a change in magnitude or load. The latter occurs scorpions when they lift their large metasoma from trailing position ambulatory posture well-known arched forward defensive posture. We measured how locomotion changes between these two postures by recording walking using high-speed video. found that fat-tailed scorpion (Androctonus australis) represents about quarter total mass. Moving this anteriorly over body center 8.15 ± 1.86 mm. increases overall duty factor, and particularly second leg pair, even taking reduced speed into account. five we recorded, also ipsilateral phase pairs 3 4 differed trajectory 4th foot describes during single stride significantly postures, showing sensitive measure gait. an places different demands on scorpions, possibly largely displacement