Sexual dimorphism in jump kinematics and choreography in peacock spiders
Data files
Jan 31, 2025 version files 10.61 KB
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Maratus_splendens_kinematics.csv
8.09 KB
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README.md
2.51 KB
Abstract
Jumping requires a rapid release of energy to propel an animal. Terrestrial animals achieve this by relying exclusively on the power generated by muscles, or by storing and rapidly releasing elastic energy. Jumping spiders rely on hydraulic pressure and muscular action to propel their jump. Though males and females of jumping spiders vary in size, sex-specific differences in jumping have never been studied. We investigated sexual dimorphism in the jump kinematics of an Australian Peacock spider, Maratus splendens. We recorded locomotory jumps in males and females using high-speed videography (5000 frames per second). We determined the centre of mass of the animals using µCT and tracked its displacement during a jump. We found that although females weighed more than twice as much as males, both had similar accelerations and take-off velocities. Males had shorter jump take-off duration, steeper take-off angle, and experienced higher g-force compared to the females. We report on the jump choreography in the male and female spiders and discuss the ecological reasons for the sex-based differences in jump kinematics.
README: Sexual Dimorphism in Jump Kinematics and Choreography in Peacock Spiders
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvsp
Description of the data and file structure
We have provided two files: (a) S1_Maratus.mp4 and (b) Maratus_splendens_kinematics.csv
(a) S1_Maratus.mp4: (in Zenodo) Includes two sample video footage of the full jump, one of the male and one of the female. It also contains two sample high-magnification video footage of the jumps with annotations of leg movements. We have provided footage of one male and one female.
Frame rate and playback speed are indicated on the videos itself.
(b) Maratus_splendens_kinematics.csv: This file contains data for 30 male and 35 female Maratus splendens jumps.
Column headers indicate information in each column:
- Sex: male or female
- Condition: we filmed either a full jump (the take off and landing platform were in the field of view) or take-off only (where only the take-off was filmed at a magnified view)
- Spider ID: each spider we filmed had a unique ID
- Jump ID: each spider was filmed thrice, which is indicated as J1, J2, and J3. Only one spider (female S1) had two jump data
- Mass_mg: weight of the spider in milligrams
- Take-off duration_ms: Time required for a jump take off in milliseconds. Details in the methods of the manuscript
- Peak acceleration m/s2: maximum acceleration experienced by the spider during its jump (meters / second^2)
- Maximum_G: the maximum g experienced by the spider during its jump
- Maximum_velocity m/s: maximum velocity by the spider during its jump (meters / second)
- Jump Force: Maximum force involved during the jump
- Kinetic energy: the Kinetic energy involved in the jump
- Jump power: Maximum power involved during the jump
- Take-off angle: is provided in degrees
- Maximum trajectory height mm: this is the maximum height reached by a spider during its jump. This is determined only for the full-jumps. Data are in millimetres
End trajectory height mm: this is the height of by a spider during the end of its jump trajectory. This is determined only for the full-jumps. Data are in millimetres
Methods to calculate each variable is included in the main manuscript.
Code/software
The mp4 file can be viewed in QuickTime, VLC player
The CSV can be opened in Excel, TextEdit.
Access information
Other publicly accessible locations of the data:
- NA
Data was derived from the following sources:
- NA
Methods
Data was collected from high speed videography