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Energetic Cost of Locomotion in Kangaroos

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Museum of Comparative Zoology and Biological Laboratories, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138

    TERENCE J. DAWSON & C. RICHARD TAYLOR

  2. School of Zoology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia

    TERENCE J. DAWSON

Authors
  1. TERENCE J. DAWSON
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  2. C. RICHARD TAYLOR
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DAWSON, T., TAYLOR, C. Energetic Cost of Locomotion in Kangaroos. Nature 246, 313–314 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/246313a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/246313a0

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