美国内布拉斯加大学Nathaniel H. Hunt等研究人员发现，松鼠能够学会在树枝上跳跃和降落而不会坠落。2021年8月6日出版的《科学》发表了这项成果。

研究人员发现，自由放养的狐松鼠（Sciurus niger）跃过不熟悉的模拟树枝是通过平衡间隙距离和树枝弯曲度之间的权衡来决定在哪里发射。松鼠很快就学会了修改从不熟悉的、顺应性强的横梁上反复跃起时的冲力产生。一套灵活的着陆动作使松鼠能够有针对性地跃起而不摔倒。意料之外的适应性着陆和跳跃"跑酷"行为揭示了一种创新的解决方案，可用于应对特别具有挑战性的跳跃。松鼠决定并学习如何发射和着陆，这揭示了生物力学和认知在强大的间隙跨越策略中的协同作用。

据了解，树栖动物经常跃过复杂的树冠来旅行和避免捕食者。它们能否成功地在瞬间做出行动取决于它们对动作的熟练运用和对过去的学习。

附：英文原文

Title: Acrobatic squirrels learn to leap and land on tree branches without falling

Author: Nathaniel H. Hunt, Judy Jinn, Lucia F. Jacobs, Robert J. Full

Issue&Volume: 2021/08/06

Abstract: Arboreal animals often leap through complex canopies to travel and avoid predators. Their success at making split-second, potentially life-threatening decisions of biomechanical capability depends on their skillful use of acrobatic maneuvers and learning from past efforts. Here, we found that free-ranging fox squirrels (Sciurus niger) leaping across unfamiliar, simulated branches decided where to launch by balancing a trade-off between gap distance and branch-bending compliance. Squirrels quickly learned to modify impulse generation upon repeated leaps from unfamiliar, compliant beams. A repertoire of agile landing maneuvers enabled targeted leaping without falling. Unanticipated adaptive landing and leaping “parkour” behavior revealed an innovative solution for particularly challenging leaps. Squirrels deciding and learning how to launch and land demonstrates the synergistic roles of biomechanics and cognition in robust gap-crossing strategies.

DOI: 10.1126/science.abe5753

Source: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/373/6555/697