Figure 4.

Model predictions of floating conditions. Predictions of ability to float without meniscus breaking during sliding for different combinations of ‘leg geometry’, body size class and sliding mode. The large grey arrow at the middle represents size classes based on our study organisms: G. latiabdominis, A. paludum, P. tigrina and G. gigas females and males. Wetted leg geometries: ‘short-wetted-foreleg’ (blue), ‘intermediate-wetted-foreleg’ (green) and ‘long-wetted-foreleg’ (red). Sliding types: symmetric sliding (solid line) and asymmetric sliding (dashed line). Filled polygons represent observed combinations of behaviour and leg geometry; unfilled polygons represent virtual combinations of behaviour and leg geometry for different body sizes. The phase diagrams represent normal force applied on anterior supporting leg ($N_a$; vertical axis) and total length of the anterior supporting legs’ wetted perimeter ($2(L_a+D)$; horizontal axis). The diagonal black solid line in each figure corresponds to $N_a=2\sigma (L_a+D)$, and the hatched area above the line indicates conditions leading to meniscus breaking under the anterior supporting leg(s). The table summarizes the floating conditions predicted by the model.