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Related Experiment Videos

Axial muscle function during lizard locomotion

Ritter

    The Journal of Experimental Biology
    |January 1, 1996
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Lizard epaxial muscles stabilize the trunk during locomotion, a basal trait in amniotes. Hypaxial muscles, like the external oblique and rectus abdominis, are responsible for lateral bending in lizards.

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    Area of Science:

    • Vertebrate Paleontology
    • Comparative Biomechanics
    • Evolutionary Biology

    Background:

    • Epaxial muscles in lizards were previously thought to drive lateral bending during locomotion.
    • Recent findings suggested epaxial muscles stabilize the trunk in Varanus salvator, potentially a shared amniote trait.
    • This challenged the established understanding of lizard locomotion mechanics.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate if epaxial muscle activity in a basal lizard (Iguana iguana) reflects a primitive trunk stabilization role.
    • To identify which muscles are responsible for lateral bending if epaxial muscles are not.
    • To determine if trunk stabilization by epaxial muscles is a basal lizard or amniote characteristic.

    Main Methods:

    • Collected synchronous electromyographic (EMG) and kinematic data from Iguana iguana and Varanus salvator during walking and running.

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  • Recorded EMG activity from epaxial muscles of Iguana iguana.
  • Recorded EMG activity from hypaxial muscles of both species.

    • Main Results:

    • Epaxial muscle activity timing in Iguana iguana mirrors that in Varanus salvator, supporting a trunk stabilization role.
    • This pattern suggests trunk stabilization by epaxial muscles is a basal feature in lizards and amniotes.
    • External oblique and rectus abdominis (hypaxial muscles) showed activity patterns consistent with producing lateral bending.

    Conclusions:

    • The epaxial muscles of lizards primarily stabilize the trunk during locomotion.
    • Trunk stabilization by epaxial muscles is likely a basal trait for lizards and amniotes.
    • Hypaxial muscles are the main drivers of lateral bending in lizard locomotion.