Meeting Abstract
Movement through arboreal habitats is particularly challenging, as these habitats contain complex arrangements of perches varying in diameter, incline, and spacing. Due to the risk of falling, maintaining stability is of the primary importance in arboreal locomotion. Chameleons are largely arboreal specialist and possess a diversity of characteristics that enable them to maintain stability while smoothly moving through their complex environments. The substrate-contacting surfaces of their zygodactylous feet contain friction-enhancing setae that provide resistance to toppling movements. To explore the functional significance of setae in arboreal locomotion, I covered the setae with ceramic microspheres to block their function. I recorded Oustalet’s chameleons (Furcifer oustaleti) moving across perches of different diameters, inclines, and hardnesses before and after covering their setae. I assessed the conditions which brought about the largest changes in locomotor kinematics, providing insight into the perch conditions which setae provide the greatest benefit to maintaining stability. I also explored the kinematic responses of chameleons to having their setae covered, to assess how they maintain stability without functioning setae.
