Meeting Abstract
Arboreal habitats present some of the greatest challenges to movement, as they contain complex arrangements of perches with various diameters, inclines, and spacing. Due to the increased chance of toppling, maintaining stability is of primary importance in arboreal locomotion. Chameleons are largely arboreal specialists and possess diverse characteristics that enable them to move smoothly through their complex environments. For example, their zygodactylous feet and prehensile tails have friction-enhancing microstructure (setae) on the substrate-contacting surfaces, allowing for effective gripping. This research examines the importance of subdigital setae on gripping performance in Oustalet’s chameleons (Furcifer oustaleti). To explore the functional significance of setae in arboreal locomotion, I measured the gripping performance and locomotor movements of chameleons before and after interfering with the setae. I recorded the chameleons moving across perches of different diameters, hardnesses, and inclines to assess the conditions in which setae provide the most benefit in maintaining stability.
