Prey-aiming gait configuration. Prey-aiming gait configuration. (A) Initial leg orientation (θF) during ambushing. Values are means±s.d. (B) Polar histograms of the mean strike directions performed with different inside flexion legs (IFL; i.e. the legs inside of the rotation that flex during stance), showing the correlation between IFL orientation and strike direction. (C) Schematic demonstration of the general gait configuration for striking posteriorly oriented prey. To strike and reorient towards prey, the spider pulls with the IFL, pushes with its outside extension legs (OEL; i.e. legs outside of the rotation that extend during stance), and adducts other legs, or ‘aerial adduction legs’ (AAL; i.e. legs on either side of the rotation that swing mid-air throughout the strike maneuver). Arrows indicate leg movements relative to the body. (D) Variation of the mean number of stance legs throughout the strike period (N=32 trials). (E) A full strike maneuver sequence in top view, where the spider body and legs are represented by line segments based on 3D kinematics data. Two mid-maneuver intervals (22–33 ms and 42–52 ms) show that a single IFL (left leg IV) drives the strike maneuver with two OEL (right legs III and IV). Mid-maneuver stance legs are shown in color. Red circles on tarsi represent substrate contact. Kinematics is based on a left-turn configuration. Yu Zeng, and Sarah Crews J Exp Biol 2018;221:jeb166512 © 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd