Body and Tail Coordination in the Bluespot Salamander (Ambystoma laterale) During Limb Regeneration

Salamanders can regrow lost limbs, tails, and spinal cords, making them valuable for robotics research. This study explores how salamanders adjust their movement as their hindlimbs regenerate. Researchers amputated the hindlimbs of blue-spotted salamanders and observed changes in body and tail movements during regeneration, comparing them to the amphibious fish Polypterus senegalus. The study found that salamanders in early regeneration stages increase undulation frequency around their pectoral girdle, reduce preferred walking speeds, and increase bending waves along the body.

• 1
  Salamanders in the early stages of regeneration exhibit a higher undulation frequency, particularly around the pelvic girdle.
• 2
  Stride length increases steadily throughout the regeneration process as the limbs regrow.
• 3
  After leg amputation, salamander walking kinematics more closely resembles Polypterus swimming kinematics with an increase in the number of waves along the body.