Locomotion in the quail (Coturnix japonica): the kinematics of walking and increasing speed

Abstract

Hindlimb segmental kinematics and stride characteristics are quantified in several quail locomoting on a treadmill over a six-fold increase in speed. These data are used to describe the kinematics of a walking stride and to identify which limb elements are used to change stride features as speed increases. In quail, the femur does not move during locomotion and the tarsometatarsus-phalangeal joint is a major moving joint; thus, quail have lost the most proximal moving joint and added one distally. The tibiotarsus and tarsometatarsus act together as a fixed strut swinging from the knee during stance phase (the ankle angle remains constant at a given speed) and the tarsometatarsusphalangeal joint appears to have a major role in increasing limb length during the propulsive phase of the stride. Speed is increased with greater knee extension and by lengthening the tibiotarsus/tarsometatarsus via

Comparative intralimb coordination in avian bipedal locomotion

“…This importance of knee movement for the displacement of the body as a peculiarity of avian bipedalism has been recognized previously by other authors (Cracraft, 1971;Jacobson and Hollyday, 1982;Manion, 1984;Gatesy, 1990;Gatesy, 1999a;Gatesy, 1999b;Reilly, 2000;Verstappen et al, 2000;Rubenson et al, 2007;Hutchinson and Allen, 2009). However, the excursion of knee flexion and proper motion of the tibiotarsus does not increase beyond Fr0.08.…”

“…Although an almost static intertarsal joint during stance phase has been reported by Reilly (Reilly, 2000) in quail and by Jacobson and Hollyday (Jacobson and Hollyday, 1982) in hens, its motion during stance is significant in the species investigated here. Its small CSP points to a high degree of non-progressive joint excursions that indicate the importance of the intertarsal joint for telescoping movements (compliance) of the limb.…”

“…The study produced some distinct differences to preceding work using conventional video technique. To take a single example, Reilly (Reilly, 2000) reported a nearly immobile femur and hip joint in quail during the stance phase of locomotion. In the present study, a major result is that hip joint movement in quail during stance is substantial even at low velocities and also increases significantly with increasing locomotion speed.…”

“…C. monedula). Currently, knowledge of intralimb coordination of avian terrestrial locomotion is restricted to guinea fowl (Gatesy, 1999a;Gatesy, 1999b), chicken (Jacobson and Hollyday, 1982;Manion, 1984;Muir et al, 1996), quail (Reilly, 2000;Abourachid et al, 2011), pigeon (Cracraft, 1971), magpie (Verstappen et al, 2000) and several Struthioniformes (e.g. Abourachid and Renous, 2000;Jindrich et al, 2007;Rubenson et al, 2007;Smith et al, 2010).…”

Anatomia descritiva aplicada à cinesiologia e biomecânica básica dos músculos da cintura peitoral, estilopódio e zeugopódio do jacaré do papo amarelo

“…Em algumas, os membros são mantidos ao lado do corpo, ocasionando movimentos intersegmentados, como salamandras e alguns lagartos (CABELGUEN, et al, 2003), em outras, abaixo, em relação ao corpo, como os mamíferos e aves (REILLY, 2000), e, ainda, crocodilianos e iguanas conseguem assumir diferentes posturas, apesar de apresentarem duração restrita nas ações. Vale ressaltar que pode haver variações intraespecífi cas e, portanto, posturas intermediárias (eretas, semi-eretas e rastejantes) (BLOB & BIEWENER, 2001;REILLY & BLOB, 2003).…”