Skip to main content
Dryad

Data from: Role of multiple, adjustable toes in distributed control shown by sideways wall-running in geckos

Data files

Apr 24, 2020 version files 187.50 MB
May 06, 2020 version files 188.70 MB
May 08, 2020 version files 187.50 MB

Abstract

Remarkable progress has been made characterising one of nature’s most integrated, hierarchical structures – the fibrillar adhesive system of geckos. Surprisingly, we lack an understanding of how multiple, soft toes coordinate to facilitate gecko’s acrobatic locomotion. Here, we tested the control function of multiple toes of sideways wall running geckos by varying substrate orientation, friction, and available area. Geckos realigned the toes of top feet toward the upward direction to resist gravity. Top front and hind feet functioned like the front feet during vertical climbing. The contact area was not compromised but redistributed by toes. Geckos aligned all toes upward to resist slipping when encountering low friction patches and increased the contribution of particular toes to compensate for adhesion loss when not all toes were available during the negotiation of intermittent slippery strips. Increasing substrate roughness by replacing the flat wall with discrete rods perpendicular to motion resulted in geckos bending and/or rotating toes to conform to and even grasp the rods, with a potential force more than five times body weight. Our findings revealed that geckos increase their effectiveness of manoeuvrability in demanding environments by taking advantage of the distributed control afforded by multiple, adjustable soft toes.