... graded substrates. We conclude that limb mechanics during graded locomotion are fairly predictable across quadrupedal species, regardless of body plan and limb posture, with hindlimbs playing a more propulsive role and forelimbs functioning to dissipate energy. Future work will elucidate how shifts...

...-dimensional (3-D) data exist of forelimb motion during knuckle-walking. Nor do any comparative 3-D data exist for hand postures used during quadrupedalism in monkeys. This lack of data has limited the testability of proposed adaptations for knuckle-walking in African apes. This study presents the first 3-D...

... predict that an increasing number of obstacles will increase the frequency of pausing and decrease sprint velocity. Furthermore, bipedal running over multiple obstacles is predicted to maintain greater mean sprint velocity compared with quadrupedal running, thereby revealing a potential advantage...

[email protected] ) 13 10 2008 © The Company of Biologists Limited 2008 2008 quadrupedal bipedal walk trot canter kinematics sensorimotor control vision vestibular spatial orientation navigation reference frames inertia pitch rotation linear displacement velocity Equus caballus...