Wandering salamanders glide through redwood canopies, but their landing and takeoff techniques were previously unknown.
A new study suggests their blood-powered toes play a crucial role.
Salamanders can rapidly fill, trap, and drain blood in their toe tips for optimized movement.
They can also finely control blood flow to each side of their toes.
This control allows for adjusting pressure asymmetrically, improving grip on uneven surfaces like bark
Blood rushing into the toes before takeoff helps the salamanders detach.
This slightly inflates the toe tip, reducing contact area and minimizing the energy needed to let go.
Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults.
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