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News From the Field

Unique Means of Animal Locomotion Reported for First Time


July 22, 2010

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Biologists studying caterpillars have reported a unique "two-body" system of locomotion that has not previously been reported in any animal. The gut of the crawling caterpillar moves forward independently and in advance of the surrounding body wall and legs, not with them. This novel system may contribute to the caterpillars' extraordinary freedom of movement and provide insight for the design of soft-bodied robots.Full Story

Source
Tufts University

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