PNAS：研究发现壁虎尾巴掌控爬行过程
壁虎虽然有粘性的脚趾但有时也会不幸失足，这时它的尾巴就派上用场了。最新生物力学研究发现壁虎是如何在攀登时用尾巴防止摔落，甚至在空中滑行。
壁虎的尾巴是其体重的十分之一，先前科学家认为这样肥壮的尾巴这是为了抵抗天敌，没人想到它对攀登和掌握平衡的重要性。加州大学伯克利分校的生物动力学家Robert Full研究壁虎运动十几年了。在他早期实验中，他注意到壁虎在垂直表面爬行时并不用尾巴帮助，可当工程师根据实验数据设计一种攀登机器人时，他们必需加上尾巴防止其摔落。Full这时意识到尾巴值得研究。
研究人员做过过一系列壁虎滑落和跌下的实验。最终他们确定壁虎用尾巴掌控爬行过程。研究论文发表在最新的PNAS网络版上。（生物谷编译）
生物谷推荐原始出处：
PNAS published March 17, 2008, 10.1073/pnas.0711944105
Active tails enhance arboreal acrobatics in geckos
Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
Communicated by David B. Wake, University of California, Berkeley, CA, January 15, 2008 (received for review November 13, 2007)
Abstract
Geckos are nature's elite climbers. Their remarkable climbing feats have been attributed to specialized feet with hairy toes that uncurl and peel in milliseconds. Here, we report that the secret to the gecko's arboreal acrobatics includes an active tail. We examine the tail's role during rapid climbing, aerial descent, and gliding. We show that a gecko's tail functions as an emergency fifth leg to prevent falling during rapid climbing. A response initiated by slipping causes the tail tip to push against the vertical surface, thereby preventing pitch-back of the head and upper body. When pitch-back cannot be prevented, geckos avoid falling by placing their tail in a posture similar to a bicycle's kickstand. Should a gecko fall with its back to the ground, a swing of its tail induces the most rapid, zero-angular momentum air-righting response yet measured. Once righted to a sprawled gliding posture, circular tail movements control yaw and pitch as the gecko descends. Our results suggest that large, active tails can function as effective control appendages. These results have provided biological inspiration for the design of an active tail on a climbing robot, and we anticipate their use in small, unmanned gliding vehicles and multisegment spacecraft.
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