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Convergently evolved linear actuators in ballistic tongues.

Yu Zeng1, Christopher V Anderson2, Stephen M Deban1

  • 1Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Chameleons and lungless salamanders use a unique sliding-actuator system for rapid tongue projection. This biomechanical design allows for extreme acceleration and efficient energy transfer in vertebrate movements.

Keywords:
ballistic movementmusclepower amplificationskeletonvertebrate

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Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Vertebrate Zoology
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Rapid animal movements require efficient energy transfer to overcome inertia.
  • Vertebrate dense tissues and limited elastic storage pose constraints on power output.
  • Extreme ballistic performance in vertebrates is noteworthy.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the biomechanical mechanisms behind rapid tongue projection in chameleons and lungless salamanders.
  • Determine how these animals achieve high acceleration and projection speeds.
  • Understand the evolutionary convergence of this ballistic mechanism.

Main Methods:

  • Integrated theoretical modeling with experimental results.
  • Analyzed the musculoskeletal system of chameleons and lungless salamanders.
  • Quantified acceleration, projection speed, and energy transfer dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Chameleons and lungless salamanders independently evolved a sliding-based linear actuator for tongue launching.
  • This system utilizes muscular squeezing of a tapered skeletal rod, decoupling muscle action from skeletal movement.
  • Achieved accelerations of 30-590 G and projection speeds of 2-5.5 m/s across a wide range of body sizes.
  • Demonstrated rapid and spatially compact energy transfer (3-30 ms over 1-35 mm), circumventing muscle force-velocity trade-offs.

Conclusions:

  • Biomechanical modularity, not exceptional materials, underlies this vertebrate ballistic innovation.
  • The sliding-actuator design enables efficient energy transfer, crucial for ecological versatility and thermal robustness.
  • Findings offer bio-inspiration for engineering rapid actuators using hybrid soft and stiff materials.