Limb and digit orientation during vertical clinging in Bibron's gecko,Chondrodactylus bibronii(A. Smith, 1846) and its bearing on the adhesive capabilities of geckos

Geckos with subdigital adhesive pads can scale smooth vertical surfaces in defiance of gravity. The deployment of the adhesive system is activated by the musculoskeletal system during active traverses of such surfaces, but adhesion on such substrata can also be achieved by passive means, with the body weight of the gecko applying tensile loading to the adhesive setae, maintaining prolonged, static contact with the surface. To investigate whether...