Locomotion and Burrowing in Limbless Vertebrates
Locomotion and Burrowing in Limbless Vertebrates
复制标题
无肢脊椎动物的运动和洞穴
作者：
Carl Gans
GAYMER1最近描述了无肢陆生脊椎动物的一种新的运动方式--“蠕虫状”运动。根据无肢两栖动物的X光照片，他指出，这些动物可以通过将脊椎弯曲成多条短半径的曲线来缩短它们的身体。缩短的区域显然是固定在土壤或隧道墙壁上，然后头部从这个静止区域向前移动。因此，固定的区域起到了强制传输到土壤的作用，允许动物拉起它的后部躯干，或者将前面的部分沿着路径送得更远。盖默指出，这样形成的固定区域也可以作为撞击运动的基地。
GAYMER1 recently described “vermiform” movement as a fifth2,3 and “new” method of locomotion in limbless terrestrial vertebrates. On the basis of X-rays of limbless amphibians (caecilians) he stated that these animals can shorten their bodies by flexing the vertebral column into multiple curves of short radius within the integumentary envelope. The shortened region is apparently fixed against the soil or tunnel walls and the head then moves forward from this stationary zone. The fixed region thus serves in force transmission to the soil, allowing the animal to pull up its posterior trunk, or send the anterior portion further along the path. Gaymer noted that the fixed zone thus formed may also serve as a base for ramming movements.