FAST ACTIONS IN SMALL ANIMALS - SPRINGS AND CLICK MECHANISMS

Small animals that jump or perform predatory strikes depend on much hi gher limb accelerations than larger animals. To overcome the temporal restrictions of muscle contraction, some arthropod muscles slowly load spring-like structures with potential energy. In flight, sound genera tion, jumping, or predatory strikes arthropods employ different strate gies to transform muscular action to the desired movement. Click mecha nisms control the frequency of oscillating spring - muscle systems whi le other accessory structures such as snap mechanism or latches with t rigger muscles determine the stability and control the timing of the i nstantaneous discharge in catapult mechanisms.