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December 2012
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Cover Image
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Cover: Tongue projection in chameleons, like this Chamaeleo calyptratus, is powered by the recoil of elastic elements, whereas tongue retraction is powered directly by muscle contraction. At low body temperatures, tongue projection performance is maintained at high levels, while tongue retraction performance declines dramatically. Anderson and Deban (pp. 4345−4357) examined changes in muscle activation patterns and muscle contractile properties with temperature. They found that the thermal dependence of muscle contractile dynamics is conserved and that specializations in morphology and motor control are responsible for the thermal robustness of tongue projection in chameleons. Photo credit: C. V. Anderson. ?? ?? ?? ??Close Modal - PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of contents
ISSN 0022-0949
EISSN 1477-9145
In the field: an interview with Glenn Tattersall
Glenn Tattersall talks about his experiences using a thermal imaging camera in South Africa, the Galapagos Islands, Scotland and Brazil.
Rearing seahorses trigger powerful gulps
Tiny seahorses generate extraordinary suction to slurp up some of the fastest larval prey on the planet by rearing their heads back at speeds of up to 10,200 deg/s.
Evolutionary physiology of the vertebrate O2 transport system
Studies of the evolution of aerobic capacity and the O2 transport pathway can provide appreciable insight into the systems-level mechanisms underlying the evolution of complex performance traits.
