Mechanics of Locomotion Energetics in Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis Milne-Edwards

Abstract:

The study on the locomotion mechanism in laboratory has defined performance limits for animals presently. But it is more significant for investigating mechanics of animals in their free state. In order to study the locomotion properties of Chinese mitten crabs Eriocheir sinensis Milne-Edwards on one flat terrain and four kinds of rough terrains, a high speed 3-D video recording system was used to record motion video images of crabs. The gait pattern, average speeds, the mechanical energy of the mass center and percentage energy recovery were investigated with motion analysis system. The results showed that Chinese mitten crabs used alternating tetrapod gait on flat terrain and with increasing of terrain roughness, the regularity of gait tend to be less conspicuous. Crabs used two fundamental models of energy exchanging patterns: the inverted pendulum gait and the bouncing gait and the bouncing gait was the main energy saving and conserving pattern. Keywords-biomechanics, Chinese mitten crab, rough terrain, gait, mechanical energy, percentage energy recovery

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 461)
• Pages: 247-253
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.461.247
• Online since: November 2013
• Authors: Xiao Dong Zhang, Jian Qiao Li, Han Huang, Meng Zou
• Keywords: Biomechanics, Chinese Mitten Crab, Gait, Mechanical Energy, Percentage Energy Recovery, Rough Terrain

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