Locomotion and Movement

Movement on Land

Walking and Crawling

Land animals use limbs (legs) or body muscles to move across different terrains.
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Key Points

  1. Limbs: Mammals, amphibians, and reptiles usually have four limbs (forelimbs and hindlimbs).
  2. Humans use only their hindlimbs (legs) for walking upright.
  3. Cheetahs use all four limbs for extreme speeds.
  4. Snakes: Lack legs; use scales and powerful muscles to crawl in a zigzag motion.

Movement in Water

Swimming Efficiency

Water-dwelling animals have bodies shaped for swimming and parts that act like oars or paddles.
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Key Points

  1. Fins: Fish have fins to help them move, balance, and change direction.
  2. Flippers: Turtles and penguins have limb-like flippers for swimming.
  3. Webbed Feet: Frogs and ducks use their webbed toes like oars in water.
  4. Tail: The tail fin provides the main push for fish.

Movement in Air

Achieving Flight

Flying animals have lightweight bodies and structures that generate lift in the air.
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Key Points

  1. Wings: Modified forelimbs of birds; covered with feathers.
  2. Hollow Bones: Birds have light, air-filled bones to reduce weight.
  3. Insects: Have one or two pairs of wings made of thin membranes.
  4. Bats: The only mammals that can fly, using skin stretched between long finger bones.

Olympiad Fact

Ostriches and Penguins are flightless birds; they have wings but use them for balance or swimming instead.

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