Overview

• Study shows tarantulas can maintain running speed on six legs by alternating between limping and tripedal gaits without needing a relearning phase.
• Researchers captured over 43,000 high-resolution frames plus more than 800 strides to analyze pre- and post-amputation locomotion.
• Unsupervised machine learning algorithms identified hidden gait patterns, revealing spiders combine walking styles fluidly after limb loss.
• When down to six legs, tarantulas kept their hind limbs grounded longer to boost propulsion, highlighting limb prioritization in impaired locomotion.
• Findings published June 17 in the Journal of Experimental Biology could inform adaptive design in bio-inspired robotics and prosthetics.