Animal Locomotion

Life Science - Middle School

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How an animal moves is called locomotion. Animals use locomotion to travel from place to place, compete for a mate, search for food, chase prey or escape predators. We all know that fish swim, birds fly, cheetahs run and tigers leap, but did you know that animals have different forms of locomotion to suit their habitats? Animals like zebras (1), cheetahs (2), wildebeest (3) and antelopes (4) live on the open grasslands of the African savannah, so they are built for running fast. This is similar to the American prairie that was once home to millions of bison (5) and pronghorn antelope (6). Grasslands also suit the powerful jumping abilities of kangaroos (7) traveling across the dry, rocky outback of Australia. Rainforest animals are built more for climbing and leaping, like monkeys and apes (8) swinging through the trees using powerful arms. This form of locomotion is called brachiation. Other rainforest animals slither slowly through the vegetation, like anacondas, boa constrictors (9) and other snakes. Some forest animals even glide on flaps of skin from tree to tree like the flying lizard (10). Few rainforest animals live on the forest floor where they may be attacked by predators. The ones that do are built compact and low to the ground for running under or through the vegetation, like the tapir (11) and wild boar. Aquatic environments, both saltwater and fresh, suit animals with fins and strong body muscles for swimming like fish (12), sharks (13), dolphins (14), whales and other marine mammals. Birds are found in all environments, using many forms of locomotion. Ostriches (15) run on open grasslands and penguins (16) swim in the ocean, while any number of birds fly over all habitats. How do the animals you know move in their environment? Animal Locomotion 4 1 3 5 8 9 6 7 10 11 12 2 13 15 16 14
94-4038 How an animal moves is called _____________________________. Animals use locomotion to travel from place to place, compete for a mate, search for food, chase prey or escape _____________________________. We all know that fish _________________, birds ___________, cheetahs ___________ and tigers leap, but did you know that animals have different forms of locomotion to suit their habitats? Animals like ___________________ (1), ___________________ (2), ___________________ (3) and ___________________ (4) live on the open grasslands of the African savannah so they are built for running fast. This is similar to the American __________________ that was once home to millions of _________________ (5) and pronghorn ________________________ (6). Grasslands also suit the powerful jumping abilities of ___________________________ (7) traveling across the dry, rocky outback of Australia. Rainforest animals are built more for climbing and leaping, like monkeys and _______________ (8) swinging through the trees using powerful arms. This form of locomotion is called _______________________. Other rainforest animals slither slowly through the vegetation, like anacondas and __________ constrictors (9). Some forest animals even glide on flaps of skin from tree to tree like the ___________________ ___________________ (10). Few rainforest animals live on the forest ___________________ where they may be attacked by predators. The ones that do are built compact and low to the ground for running under or through the vegetation, like the ______________ (11) and wild boar. Aquatic environments, both saltwater and fresh, suit animals with fins and strong body muscles for _____________________ like ____________ (12), ___________________ (13), __________________ (14), whales and other marine mammals. Birds are found in all environments, using many forms of locomotion. ____________________ (15) run on open grasslands and ___________________ (16) swim in the ocean, while any number of birds fly over all habitats. How do the animals you know move in their environment? 4 1 3 5 8 9 6 7 10 11 12 2 13 15 16 14 Animal Locomotion