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The wavelike gait of the millipede Motyxia sequoiae.
The wavelike gait of the millipede Motyxia sequoiae. This unique locomotion in millipedes, called a metachronal gait, occurs when the legs ripple in a wave along the length of the body from tail to head. The video was recorded under ultraviolet light as the millipede's exoskeleton was simultaneously fluorescent and bioluminescent.
Credit: Paul Marek, Entomology Department, Virginia Tech and Owen Bissell, Fast + Light Productions, San Francisco, CA (fastandlightproductions.com)
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