Timothy E. Higham
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View article: Fish alter locomotor and feeding kinematics to capture aerial prey
Fish alter locomotor and feeding kinematics to capture aerial prey Open
Although most fishes feed exclusively in water, some are capable of leaping into the air to capture flying, suspended or perched prey. Whereas some species specialize in aerial prey capture, others will only opportunistically feed aerially…
View article: Osteology and arthrology of the ankle and tarsometatarsus of anoles (Iguania: Anolidae): not convergent with geckos but divergent from the ancestral iguanian condition
Osteology and arthrology of the ankle and tarsometatarsus of anoles (Iguania: Anolidae): not convergent with geckos but divergent from the ancestral iguanian condition Open
The ankle joint of lizards has a complex structure, and its features help to define the Lacertilia. The configuration of this joint in its ancestral state entrains conjoint flexion‐extension and long‐axis rotation of the pes relative to th…
View article: Thermal Dynamics of Ectotherm Behavioral Strategies: Insights from Agent-Based Simulations
Thermal Dynamics of Ectotherm Behavioral Strategies: Insights from Agent-Based Simulations Open
Terrestrial ectotherms use dynamic behavioral thermoregulation strategies that typically rely on finding thermal refugia to avoid unfavorable conditions. Traditional analytic approaches rely on analysis of thermal indices to describe therm…
View article: Frictional adhesion of geckos predicts maximum running performance in nature
Frictional adhesion of geckos predicts maximum running performance in nature Open
Despite the myriad studies examining the diversity and mechanisms of gecko adhesion in the lab, we have a poor understanding of how this translates to locomotion in nature. It has long been assumed that greater adhesive strength should tra…
View article: Reassessment of the possible size, form, weight, cruising speed, and growth parameters of the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae), and new evolutionary insights into its gigantism, life history strategies, ecology, and extinction
Reassessment of the possible size, form, weight, cruising speed, and growth parameters of the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae), and new evolutionary insights into its gigantism, life history strategies, ecology, and extinction Open
Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae) is an iconic Neogene shark, but the lack of well-preserved skeletons has hampered our understanding of various aspects of its biology. Here, we reassess some of its biological properties using a …
View article: How do fish miss? Attack strategies of threespine stickleback capturing non-evasive prey
How do fish miss? Attack strategies of threespine stickleback capturing non-evasive prey Open
Most predators rely on capturing prey for survival, yet failure is common. Failure is often attributed to prey evasion, but predator miscalculation and/or inaccuracy may also drive an unsuccessful event. We addressed the latter using three…
View article: Springing into action: Comparing escape responses between bipedal and quadrupedal rodents
Springing into action: Comparing escape responses between bipedal and quadrupedal rodents Open
Predation is a fundamental selective pressure on animal morphology, as morphology is directly linked with physical performance and evasion. Bipedal heteromyid rodents, which are characterized by unique morphological traits such as enlarged…
View article: The rise of pelagic sharks and adaptive evolution of pectoral fin morphology during the Cretaceous
The rise of pelagic sharks and adaptive evolution of pectoral fin morphology during the Cretaceous Open
The emergence and subsequent evolution of pectoral fins is a key point in vertebrate evolution, as pectoral fins are dominant control surfaces for locomotion in extant fishes.1,2,3 However, major gaps remain in our understanding of the div…
View article: Ecologically‐related variation of digit morphology in <i>Cyrtodactylus</i> (Gekkota, Squamata) reveals repeated origins of incipient adhesive toepads
Ecologically‐related variation of digit morphology in <i>Cyrtodactylus</i> (Gekkota, Squamata) reveals repeated origins of incipient adhesive toepads Open
Exploitation of different locomotor substrates in different ecological niches has driven the evolution of specialized morphological structures, and similar ecological demands, such as the structure of the microhabitat, often lead to conver…
View article: The past, present, and future of predator–prey interactions in a warming world: Using species distribution modeling to forecast ectotherm–endotherm niche overlap
The past, present, and future of predator–prey interactions in a warming world: Using species distribution modeling to forecast ectotherm–endotherm niche overlap Open
Climate change has the potential to disrupt species interactions across global ecosystems. Ectotherm–endotherm interactions may be especially prone to this risk due to the possible mismatch between the species in physiological response and…
View article: Ecomorphology of the Locomotor Apparatus in the Genus Cyrtodactylus (Gekkota, Squamata)
Ecomorphology of the Locomotor Apparatus in the Genus Cyrtodactylus (Gekkota, Squamata) Open
Adaptive radiations garner considerable interest from evolutionary biologists. Lizard radiations diversifying along structural niche space often exhibit distinct changes in body and limb proportions. One prediction is that terrestrial spec…
View article: White shark comparison reveals a slender body for the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae)
White shark comparison reveals a slender body for the extinct megatooth shark, Otodus megalodon (Lamniformes: Otodontidae) Open
The megatooth shark, †Otodus megalodon, which likely reached at least 15 m in total length, is an iconic extinct shark represented primarily by its gigantic teeth in the Neogene fossil record. As one of the largest marine carnivores to eve…
View article: Cryptic behavior and activity cycles of a small mammal keystone species revealed through accelerometry: a case study of Merriam’s kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami)
Cryptic behavior and activity cycles of a small mammal keystone species revealed through accelerometry: a case study of Merriam’s kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) Open
Background Kangaroo rats are small mammals that are among the most abundant vertebrates in many terrestrial ecosystems in Western North America and are considered both keystone species and ecosystem engineers, providing numerous linkages b…
View article: Variation in claw morphology among the digits of Bent-toed geckos (Cyrtodactylus: Gekkota: Gekkonidae)
Variation in claw morphology among the digits of Bent-toed geckos (Cyrtodactylus: Gekkota: Gekkonidae) Open
Background Ecomorphological studies of lizards have increasingly employed comparison of claw morphology among species in relation to spatial niche use. Typically, such studies focus on digit IV of the autopodia, especially the pes. Uniform…
View article: The tailless gecko gets the worm: prey type alters the effects of caudal autotomy on prey capture and subjugation kinematics
The tailless gecko gets the worm: prey type alters the effects of caudal autotomy on prey capture and subjugation kinematics Open
Prey capture and subjugation are complex behaviors affected by many factors including physiological and behavioral traits of both the predator and the prey. The western banded gecko ( Coleonyx variegatus ) is a small generalist predator th…
View article: Uumarrty and the Nash Score: a Game-theoretic, Agent-based Framework for Understanding Evolutionary Stability in Behavioral Traits
Uumarrty and the Nash Score: a Game-theoretic, Agent-based Framework for Understanding Evolutionary Stability in Behavioral Traits Open
This paper introduces a new simulation framework for testing hypotheses relating to behavior strategies in predator-prey systems. To this end, we present two tools for simulating and analyzing behavioral trait dynamics: The Nash Score, a n…
View article: How to study a predator that only eats a few meals a year: high-frequency accelerometry to quantify feeding behaviours of rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.)
How to study a predator that only eats a few meals a year: high-frequency accelerometry to quantify feeding behaviours of rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.) Open
Background Many snakes are low-energy predators that use crypsis to ambush their prey. Most of these species feed very infrequently, are sensitive to the presence of larger vertebrates, such as humans, and spend large portions of their lif…
View article: Additional file 1 of How to study a predator that only eats a few meals a year: high-frequency accelerometry to quantify feeding behaviours of rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.)
Additional file 1 of How to study a predator that only eats a few meals a year: high-frequency accelerometry to quantify feeding behaviours of rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.) Open
Additional file 1. Model results for species-specific algoritims at varying window sizes.
View article: Growing up in a rough world: scaling of frictional adhesion and morphology of the Tokay gecko (<i>Gekko gecko</i>)
Growing up in a rough world: scaling of frictional adhesion and morphology of the Tokay gecko (<i>Gekko gecko</i>) Open
Many geckos have the remarkable ability to reversibly adhere to surfaces using a hierarchical system that includes both internal and external elements. The vast majority of studies have examined the performance of the adhesive system using…
View article: Ecomechanics and the Rules of Life: A Critical Conduit between the Physical and Natural Sciences
Ecomechanics and the Rules of Life: A Critical Conduit between the Physical and Natural Sciences Open
Nature provides the parameters, or boundaries, within which organisms must cope in order to survive. Therefore, ecological conditions have an unequivocal influence on the ability of organisms to perform the necessary functions for survival…
View article: The Evolution of Mechanical Properties of Conifer and Angiosperm Woods
The Evolution of Mechanical Properties of Conifer and Angiosperm Woods Open
The material properties of the cells and tissues of an organism dictate, to a very large degree, the ability of the organism to cope with the mechanical stresses induced by externally applied forces. It is, therefore, critical to understan…
View article: Shaking things up: the unique feeding behaviour of western banded geckos when consuming scorpions
Shaking things up: the unique feeding behaviour of western banded geckos when consuming scorpions Open
Predators that feed on dangerous prey species must evolve mechanisms to reduce the likelihood of injury or death during a predation attempt. Scorpions are prime examples of dangerous prey items for insectivores, because they can inflict a …
View article: Comparative analysis of <i>Dipodomys</i> species indicates that kangaroo rat hindlimb anatomy is adapted for rapid evasive leaping
Comparative analysis of <i>Dipodomys</i> species indicates that kangaroo rat hindlimb anatomy is adapted for rapid evasive leaping Open
Body size is a key factor that influences antipredator behavior. For animals that rely on jumping to escape from predators, there is a theoretical trade‐off between jump distance and acceleration as body size changes at both the inter‐ and…
View article: Ankle structure of the Tokay gecko (<i>Gekko gecko</i>) and its role in the deployment of the subdigital adhesive system
Ankle structure of the Tokay gecko (<i>Gekko gecko</i>) and its role in the deployment of the subdigital adhesive system Open
The remarkable ability of geckos to adhere to smooth surfaces is often thought of in terms of external structures, including the branching setae that make contact with the surface producing van der Waals forces. Some geckos also exhibit un…
View article: And thereby hangs a tail: morphology, developmental patterns and biomechanics of the adhesive tails of crested geckos ( <i>Correlophus ciliatus</i> )
And thereby hangs a tail: morphology, developmental patterns and biomechanics of the adhesive tails of crested geckos ( <i>Correlophus ciliatus</i> ) Open
Among the most specialized integumentary outgrowths in amniotes are the adhesive, scale-like scansors and lamellae on the digits of anoles and geckos. Less well-known are adhesive tail pads exhibited by 21 gecko genera. While described ove…
View article: Tail Control Enhances Gliding in Arboreal Lizards: An Integrative Study Using a 3D Geometric Model and Numerical Simulation
Tail Control Enhances Gliding in Arboreal Lizards: An Integrative Study Using a 3D Geometric Model and Numerical Simulation Open
The ability to glide through an arboreal habitat has been acquired by several mammals, amphibians, snakes, lizards, and even invertebrates. Lizards of the genus Draco possess specialized morphological structures for gliding, including a pa…
View article: Tail Autotomy Alters Prey Capture Performance and Kinematics, but not Success, in Banded Geckos
Tail Autotomy Alters Prey Capture Performance and Kinematics, but not Success, in Banded Geckos Open
Tails are versatile structures with diverse forms and functions across vertebrates. They are involved in almost all behaviors critical to survival including locomotion, feeding, and predator avoidance. Although the tail’s role in locomotio…
View article: Speciation through the lens of biomechanics: locomotion, prey capture and reproductive isolation
Speciation through the lens of biomechanics: locomotion, prey capture and reproductive isolation Open
Speciation is a multifaceted process that involves numerous aspects of the biological sciences and occurs for multiple reasons. Ecology plays a major role, including both abiotic and biotic factors. Whether populations experience similar o…