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The Journal of Experimental Biology 204, 2231-2238 (2001)
© 2001 The Company of Biologists Limited

Fast muscle function in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) during aquatic and terrestrial locomotion

D. J. Ellerby^1,*, I. L. Y. Spierts² and J. D. Altringham¹

¹ School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK and
² Experimental Zoology Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

*Author for correspondence at present address: Department of Biology, 414 Mugar, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA (e-mail: dellerby{at}lynx.neu.edu)

Accepted April 9, 2001

Eels are capable of locomotion both in water and on land using undulations of the body axis. Axial undulations are powered by the lateral musculature. Differences in kinematics and the underlying patterns of fast muscle activation are apparent between locomotion in these two environments. The change in isometric fast muscle properties with axial location was less marked than in most other species. Time from stimulus to peak force (T_a) did not change significantly with axial position and was 82±6ms at 0.45BL and 93±3ms at 0.75BL, where BL is total body length. Time from stimulus to 90% relaxation (T₉₀) changed significantly with axial location, increasing from 203±11ms at 0.45BL to 239±9ms at 0.75BL. Fast muscle power outputs were measured using the work loop technique. Maximum power outputs at ±5% strain using optimal stimuli were 17.3±1.3Wkg^-1 in muscle from 0.45BL and 16.3±1.5Wkg^-1 in muscle from 0.75BL. Power output peaked at a cycle frequency of 2Hz. The stimulus patterns associated with swimming generated greater force and power than those associated with terrestrial crawling. This decrease in muscle performance in eels may occur because on land the eel is constrained to a particular kinematic pattern in order to produce thrust against an underlying substratum.

Key words: European eel, Anguilla anguilla, locomotion, muscle, power output, kinematics, swimming, crawling.

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