Eilam D, Adijes M, Vilensky J
Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life-Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Physiol Behav. 1995 Sep;58(3):483-9. doi: 10.1016/0031-9384(95)00076-u.
Mole rats were videotaped while locomoting in a Plexiglas tube to evaluate the effects of inclination on locomotion. Animals moving uphill preferred to go backward using plantigrade foot postures, presumably to prevent sliding. Uphill backward locomotion also allowed animals to cope with changes in weight distribution between the hind and forelimbs without modifying footfall pattern relative to the direction of progression. When the animals did use uphill forward strides, they switched to asymmetrical gaits, which are associated with increased propulsive forces. These and prior results suggest that weight distribution and direction of progression can modify the natural pattern of stepping in mammalian quadrupeds.
在鼹形鼠在有机玻璃管中移动时对其进行录像，以评估倾斜度对移动的影响。上坡移动的动物更喜欢采用跖行式足部姿势向后移动，大概是为了防止滑倒。上坡向后移动还使动物能够应对后肢和前肢之间体重分布的变化，而无需相对于行进方向改变脚步模式。当动物确实采用上坡向前跨步时，它们会切换到不对称步态，这与推进力增加有关。这些以及先前的结果表明，体重分布和行进方向可以改变哺乳动物四足动物的自然迈步模式。
