Meeting Abstract
Basilisk lizards are renowned for their aptitude to traverse virtually on and between any complex natural medium and diversified terrains: tree trunks, rocks, sand, mud, and water. They can also perform different locomotion gait patterns: walking on all four limbs, running on two hind legs, hopping, and even swimming under water, just to name a few. This makes them an ideal reptile to analyze their kinematics, locomotion, and morphology as they transition from one environmental setting to another. The study will evaluate distinct strategies and methodologies used by juvenile basilisks (Basiliscus plumifrons and Basiliscus vittatus) as they transition from land to water, and vice versa. A 6m by 0.5m long modular track has been designed and constructed to examine various environmental parameters, such as depth, length, and inclination of both water and granular media (i.e. sand, mud). Through a series of systematic animal studies, a better understanding can be obtained on how basilisk lizards adapt from terrestrial to aquatic locomotion. The research will lead to future efforts in designing and developing robotic systems with the ability to traverse on, through, and between terrestrial terrains and aquatic environments.
