Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33617, USA.
Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Curr Biol. 2022 May 23;32(10):R453-R454. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.033.
Wandering salamanders (Aneides vagrans) reside in the crowns of the world's tallest trees and have been observed to readily jump from the canopy when disturbed. Here, we describe the aerial performance of falling A. vagrans, which maintain stable gliding postures via adjustments of the limbs and tail in lieu of specialized control surfaces. In wind tunnel trials, A. vagrans parachuted consistently and slowed their vertical speed by up to 10% while falling. Furthermore, A. vagrans coupled parachuting with parasagittal undulations of the tail and torso to effect gliding at non-vertical angles (minimum of ∼84°) in 58% of trials. Selection pressures imposed on falling from heights can be substantial, and have resulted in the evolution of diverse aerial behaviors among arboreal taxa; nonetheless, aerial behavior occurring in arboreal salamanders is surprising, and calls for further work on the natural occurrence of falling, gliding, and directed aerial descent in canopy-dwelling tetrapods.
wandered 蝾螈 (Aneides vagrans) 栖息在世界上最高的树冠层中，当受到干扰时，它们会很容易从树冠上跳下来。在这里，我们描述了下落的 A. vagrans 的空中性能，它们通过调整四肢和尾巴来保持稳定的滑翔姿势，而不是使用专门的控制面。在风洞试验中，A. vagrans 始终如一地进行跳伞，并在下落时将垂直速度降低了 10%。此外，A. vagrans 将跳伞与尾部和躯干的矢状波动相结合，在 58%的试验中以非垂直角度（最小约为 84°）进行滑翔。从高处坠落所施加的选择压力可能很大，这导致了树栖类群中多样化的空中行为的进化；尽管如此，在树栖蝾螈中出现的空中行为是令人惊讶的，需要进一步研究树冠栖息四足动物中坠落、滑翔和定向空中下降的自然发生情况。
