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In Biomechanics , animal locomotion is the study of how Animal s Move . Not all animals move, but locomotive ability is widespread throughout the animal kingdom. As all animals are Heterotroph s, they must obtain food from their environment. Some animals such as Sponge s are Sessile , and move the fluid in which they live through their body (this is known as Filter Feeding ). However, most animals must move around to find food, mate, and so forth. Ability to do so efficiently is therefore essential to their survival. Locomotion requires Energy to overcome Friction and often Gravity as well. In Terrestrial environments gravity must be overcome, though the friction of air is much less of an issue (except for Crawling animals like worms, for which friction is much higher). In aqueous environments however, friction (or drag) becomes the major challenge, with gravity being less of a concern. Although animals with natural Buoyancy need not expend much energy maintaining vertical position, though some will naturally sink and must expend energy to remain afloat. Friction may also present a problem in Flight , and the Aerodynamic ally efficient body shapes of Bird s highlight this point. Flight presents a different problem from movement in water however, as there is no way for a living organism to have lower Density than air. Much of the study is an application of or Gas (either Water or Air ). CLASSIFICATION Animals move through a variety of fluids, such as water, air and mud. Some may move through more than one, such Seal s and Otter s. In some cases locomotion is facilitated by the substrate on which they move. Forms of locomotion include: Through a fluid medium Swimming (''Octopus vulgaris'') uses jet-propulsion to move through the water.]] In the water staying afloat is possible through buoyancy. Provided an aquatic animals body is no denser than its aqueous environment, it should be able to stay afloat well enough. Though this means little energy need be expended maintaining vertical position, it makes movement in the horizontal plane much more difficult. The Drag encountered in water is much higher than that of air, which is almost negligible at low speeds. Body shape is therefore important is efficient movement, which is essential for basic functions like Catching Prey . A fusiform, Torpedo -like body form is seen in many marine animals, though the mechanisms they employ for movement are diverse. Movement of the body may be from side to side, as in Shark s and many Fish es, or up and down, as in Marine Mammal s. Other animals, such as those from the class '' Cephalopoda '', use jet-propulsion, taking in water then squirting it back out in an explosive burst. Others may rely predominantly on their limbs, much as humans do when swimming. Though life on land originated from the seas, terrestrial animals have returned to an aquatic lifestyle on several occasions, such as the fully aquatic Cetacean s, now far removed from their terrestrial ancestors. Flight See Also: Flying and gliding animals |
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