STEPPING PATTERNS IN ANTS .1. INFLUENCE OF SPEED AND CURVATURE

The locomotory behaviour of workers of 12 ant species belonging to fou r different genera (Formicinae: Cataglyphis, Formica, Lasius; Myrmicin ae: Myrmica) was studied by filming individuals walking on smoked-glas s plates. Subsequent multivariate analyses of footfall positions and w alking kinematics revealed a set of constant features characterizing a nt locomotion. The alternating tripod gait prevails over a wide range of speeds. The temporal rigidity of tripod coordination is paralleled by spatially rigid footfall patterns. Tripod geometry is preserved irr espective of speed and curvature. When walking around curves, tripods are rotated relative to the walking trajectory..Whereas stride length on the inner side of the curve is shortened, that on the outer side is independent of curvature.