Nonhuman Primates: Species Typical Movement

Synonyms

Brachiation; Flying; Running; Swimming; Walking

Definition

Unique ways in which different animals engage in locomotion.

Introduction

From swimming to flying, there are a plethora of different movements that are specific to certain animal types and their environments. Animals have specifically developed bodies that allow them to navigate their natural environment. For example, fish have slim bodies that allow them to cut through the density of water, with a natural buoyancy to keep them from sinking to the bottom (Schmidt-Nielsen 1972). Birds are slender with the need to carry their weight against a low-density atmosphere. Walking animals thrive in environments that contain a high-density platform upon which to walk through a low-density atmosphere (Schmidt-Nielsen 1972). However, this is not the case for all walking animals. For instance, spiders lack the muscular structure to extend their legs so they fiddle with their blood pressure to do so, and worms burrow through the...