Hydrostatic locomotion in a limbless tetrapod

Abstract

Caecilians are an ancient and enigmatic group of limbless, burrowing amphibians found throughout most of the humid tropics^1,2. Over the past 100 million years, the majority of caecilian lineages seem to have retained a series of highly derived musculoskeletal traits from a common ancestor. Among these features are unusually oriented body wall muscles³ and a vertebral column that moves independently of the skin^4–9. Until now, these strange characteristics have defied a satisfying functional explanation. Our data suggest that the unique morphology of caecilians enables them to power locomotion hydrostatically by applying force to a crossed-helical array of tendons that surrounds their body cavity. Using this system, the Central American Dermophis mexicanus can generate approximately twice the maximum forward force as similar-sized burrowing snakes that rely solely on longitudinally oriented musculature of the body wall and vertebral column for forward force production. Although many groups of invertebrates use hydrostatic systems to move^10–13 and many vertebrates use hydrostatic systems in localized body parts^13,14, caecilians are the first vetebrates known to use the entire body as a hydrostatic system for locomotion.