Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Pre-CAT: A web-based, graphical user-interface toolbox for preclinical CEST-MRI data processing and analysis.

ArXiv·2026

Same author

CPAP/BiPAP Compliance Improves Survival in LVAD Recipients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·2026

Same author

Outcomes and Risk Factors for Postoperative Vasoplegia Following Implant of Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Journal of the American Heart Association·2026

Same author

Arrhythmia Challenges in Cardio-Oncology: High-Risk Therapies, Management, and Anticoagulation.

Cardiology clinics·2024

Same author

Management and outcomes of histoplasmosis in youth with inflammatory bowel disease in an endemic area.

Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition·2024

Same author

Automated Spatial Omics Landscape Analysis Approach Reveals Novel Tissue Architectures in Ulcerative Colitis.

Research square·2024

Same journal

Differential responses to photoperiod in juveniles of two migratory songbird species.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Same journal

A Drosophila overgrowth model reveals extracellular matrix crosslinking limits cardiovascular scaling.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Same journal

Control of High-speed Jumps: Removing rotation from the jumps of locusts (Schistocerca gregaria).

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Same journal

Limits and mechanisms of honey bee colonial thermoregulation in the heat.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Same journal

Correction: Sprinting performance is linked to surface activity in scorpions.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

Same journal

Tactile pup loss and acoustic signal enhance selective maternal retrieval behavior in echolocating bats, Pipistrellus abramus.

The Journal of experimental biology·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Tracking Individual Running Metrics in Mice Using a Voluntary Wheel Running Protocol that Minimizes Social Isolation

Tracking Individual Running Metrics in Mice Using a Voluntary Wheel Running Protocol that Minimizes Social Isolation

Published on: April 18, 2025

Exceptional running and turning performance in a mite.

Samuel Rubin¹, Maria Ho-Yan Young², Jonathan C Wright³

¹Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

The Journal of Experimental Biology

|January 21, 2016

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

The tiny mite Paratarsotomus macropalpis, a Southern California endemic, achieves remarkable running speeds, reaching 192.4 body lengths per second. This study details its exceptional stride frequency, gait, and turning mechanics at high temperatures.

Keywords:

Gait Paratarsotomus Relative speed Stride frequency Turning

More Related Videos

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Published on: March 27, 2014

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Published on: July 5, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Tracking Individual Running Metrics in Mice Using a Voluntary Wheel Running Protocol that Minimizes Social Isolation

Tracking Individual Running Metrics in Mice Using a Voluntary Wheel Running Protocol that Minimizes Social Isolation

Published on: April 18, 2025

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Assessing Functional Performance in the Mdx Mouse Model

Published on: March 27, 2014

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Inchworming: A Novel Motor Stereotypy in the BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J Mouse Model of Autism

Published on: July 5, 2014

Area of Science:

Arthropod locomotion
Biomechanics
Animal physiology

Background:

The mite Paratarsotomus macropalpis is endemic to Southern California.
Understanding extreme animal locomotion provides insights into biomechanical limits.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze the running speed, stride frequency, and gait of Paratarsotomus macropalpis.
To investigate the effects of temperature and turning on mite locomotion.
To compare mite running performance with other terrestrial animals.

Main Methods:

Filming mites in field and laboratory settings on concrete substrates.
Analyzing high-speed video recordings to measure stride frequency, gait, and running speed.
Varying ground temperatures (45–60 °C) to observe locomotion changes.
Observing and analyzing turning behaviors, including pivot turns.

Main Results:

Mites achieved a mean relative speed of 192.4 body lengths (BL) s⁻¹, exceeding previously recorded speeds for land animals.
Stride frequencies reached up to 135 Hz and increased with temperature.
Juveniles ran faster than adults, with proportionally longer legs.
Mites used an alternating tetrapod gait and adapted turning strategies, including pivoting on the third leg for tight turns.

Conclusions:

Paratarsotomus macropalpis exhibits exceptional running capabilities, approaching predicted inter-specific scaling relationships.
Temperature significantly influences mite stride frequency and running speed.
Specialized turning mechanisms, like leg-based pivoting, enhance maneuverability.