Abstract
THE hopping of kangaroos is reminiscent of a bouncing ball or the action of a pogo stick. This suggests a significant storage and recovery of energy in elastic elements. One might surmise that the kangaroo's first hop would require a large amount of energy whereas subsequent hops could rely extensively on elastic rebound. If this were the case, then the kangaroo's unusual saltatory mode of locomotion should be an energetically inexpensive way to move.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Taylor, C. R., Schmidt Nielsen, K., and Raab, J. L., Am. J. Physiol., 219, 1104 (1970).
Windsor, D. E., and Dagg, A. I., J. zool Res., 163, 165 (1971).
Dawson, T. J., and Hulbert, A. J., Am. J. Physiol., 218, 1233 (1970).
Badoux, D. M., Acta Anat., 62, 418 (1965).
Hildebrand, M., Scient. Am., 202, 148 (1960).
Troughton, E., Furred Animals of Australia (Halstead Press, Sydney, 1967).
Tyndaie-Biscoe, H., Life of Marsupials (Elsevier, New York, 1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
DAWSON, T., TAYLOR, C. Energetic Cost of Locomotion in Kangaroos. Nature 246, 313–314 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/246313a0
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/246313a0
This article is cited by
-
Blood flow rate to the femur of extinct kangaroos implies a higher locomotor intensity compared to living hopping macropods
Journal of Mammalian Evolution (2024)
-
Measurements of tendon length changes during stretch–shortening cycles in rat soleus
Scientific Reports (2023)
-
Electromyographic activity of the vastus medialis and gastrocnemius implicates a slow stretch-shortening cycle during rowing in the field
Scientific Reports (2020)
-
Delays in perception and action for improving walk–run transition stability in bipedal gait
Nonlinear Dynamics (2019)
-
Artificial watering points are focal points for activity by an invasive herbivore but not native herbivores in conservation reserves in arid Australia
Biodiversity and Conservation (2015)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
