Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Hedrick TL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3311889 | biostudies-other | 2012 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other
Hedrick Tyson L TL Tobalske Bret W BW Ros Ivo G IG Warrick Douglas R DR Biewener Andrew A AA
Proceedings. Biological sciences 20111214 1735
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) are widely known for their insect-like flight strokes characterized by high wing beat frequency, small muscle strains and a highly supinated wing orientation during upstroke that allows for lift production in both halves of the stroke cycle. Here, we show that hummingbirds achieve these functional traits within the limits imposed by a vertebrate endoskeleton and muscle physiology by accentuating a wing inversion mechanism found in other birds and using long-axis rotati ...[more]