Graphics Reference
In-Depth Information
FIG 4.26
Hind leg of quadruped during forward stride of a walk cycle.
as the angle of the leg declines from the upright. This phase represents a
continuation of the duty factor for this leg, though at this stage the leg begins
to push the animal forward. The phase is completed as the foot is extended
backward to the point where the foot is located at its furthest point behind
the animal, well behind the shoulder of the same leg. This phase is concluded
when the leg reaches the point at the beginning of Phase One and the cycle
begins again.
The Cursorial Walk
The walking gait of a quadruped is a symmetrical action. There is no strict
starting point, though the cycle has a clear structure and operates within
a regular sequence of leg movements. The sequence is as follows: left fore,
right hind, right fore, left hind, then left fore again and so on. Once again,
establishing a starting point for this cycle is problematic because the starting
point for a walk depends on the animal's rest mode. Different animals may
use slight variants of this quadrupedal walk, though the differences are more
likely to be in the periods between each of the legs moving and where they
plant their hind feet in relation to their front ones. This varies from animal to
animal, as does the speed at which they are moving.
