Introduction
Gait can be referred to as the movement pattern of the limbs of an animal, including humans as well. All animals have different types of gaits which can differ on the basis of speed, terrain or natural efficiency. The gaits of animals could be crawling, flying, walking or swimming. Earthworms alternately extend and contract their bodies in order to move. Cockroaches use three pairs of legs and two pairs of wings to fly. Birds fly when they flap their wings. Fishes form loops alternately on the sides of their bodies in order to swim. Snakes move with a large number of bones associated with muscles. Snails have muscular feet which help them to move. Let us discuss the gaits of different animals in detail.
Earthworm
The bodies of earthworms are made of rings that are joined from end to end. Earthworms do not have bones. Earthworms have muscles that help them to extend and contract their bodies. An earthworm while moving extends its front part of the body while keeping the rear portion fixed. Then it fixes the front part and releases the rear part. The earthworm then contracts its body and pulls the rear end towards the front. By repeating these movements of contraction and expansion, the earthworm moves. Earthworms generally move in soil.
Cockroach
A cockroach can fly, walk and climb. Cockroaches have three pairs of legs which help them in walking. The body of a cockroach is covered with a hard outer skeleton. On the breasts of cockroaches, two pairs of wings are attached which help them in flying. A cockroach has distinct muscles, the ones near the legs of the cockroach help them to walk and the ones in the breasts help with the movement of the wings. Cockroaches can move in different terrains like sand or wired meshes.
Bird
A bird can fly in the air as well as walk on the ground. There are some birds that can swim as well such as a duck or a swan. The bones of birds are hollow and light and they do not have a urinary bladder which makes flying easier for them. The bones of the hind limbs of birds help them to walk. The shoulder bones of birds are strong and then forelimbs are modified as wings which help them to fly. The breast bones of birds help them to move their wings and the direction of flight is controlled by the tail.
Fish
Fishes have a streamlined body structure which helps them to flow faster and easily in water. While swimming, the front part of the fish curves to one side and the tail part curves to the other side which helps them to push their bodies forward. The fins help them to swim and the tail helps them to swim in the right direction. To maintain the balance of the body and direction correct, there are other fins on the body of fishes.
Snake
Snakes have thin muscles and a very long backbone. The backbone, ribs and skin are interconnected with the help of muscles. A snake moves in a zig-zag manner or an S-shaped loop. Since there are many loops, each loop gives the body a forward push, which helps the snakes to move faster. Snakes move faster on grass or sand as compared to smooth surfaces.
Snail
Snails have a hard outer-rounded structure which is known as the shell. A thick structure comes out from the opening of the shell which is known as the foot and is made of very strong muscles. The foot is lubricated from beneath with mucus, which helps it to move smoothly. The snail moves with the help of waves of muscular contraction.
FAQs on Gait of Animals
1. What do you Mean by Gait of Animals?
Gait is the prototype of limb actions that an animal practises frequently in the course of locomotion. Amongst diverse animals and within an individual animal as time progresses, one can look forward to comprehend a diversity of locomotion patterns. Generally, conversely, a specific gait pattern can be recognized as a countenance of one of the fundamental gait categories.
2. How do Snails Move?
A snail has a hard - external covering named as a shell; it is made of calcium carbonate.
The shell is hauled by the snail, and it does not aid in their movement.
Shell has an introduction from beginning to end from which the body and head protrude out. The physique is made up of muscles and is the base of the snail. Shells defend snails from their predators.
They relocate in a curvy wave motion.
They boost by galloping on a stratum of mucus, through muscle shrinkages of the foot
It produces mucus which empowers rapid locomotion.
3. Why do animals move from one place to another?
Animals move from one place to another in order to find food and shelter. Some animals travel large distances in order to find more favourable livable and breeding conditions while some animals travel a shorter distance. In order to find their ways, some animals use smell in order to find where they are going while some use landmarks such as rivers, streams, etc. It is very important for all animals to move in order to survive.
4. What are the different types of movements in animals?
There are three types of movements in the body of animals
Flight Locomotion- Flight locomotion is commonly used by birds which helps them to feed, breed and migrate from one place to another. Birds have feathers that are light and streamlined and make it easier for them to fly.
Aquatic Locomotion- Aquatic locomotion is commonly used by fishes which helps them to move in water by swimming. There are many other aquatic animals as well which use this type of locomotion
Land Locomotion- Land locomotion includes many forms of movement such as walking, crawling, jumping etc.
To study locomotion and its types in detail, students can check out Vedantu’s study material on Locomotion and Movement.
5. Mention some examples of the gait of different animals?
Animals | Types of Movements |
Cockroach | Fly, Crawl |
Turtle, Lizard, Tortoise, Crocodile | Crawl |
Fish, Dolphin, Whale | Swimming |
Elephant, Cow, Tiger, Dog | Walk, Run |
Parrot, Sparrow | Flying |
6. What are the biological names of the movement of the following animals?
Snail
Earthworm
Snake
Lion
Slithering is the movement of a snail.
Peristalsis is the movement of an earthworm.
Rectilinear motion is the movement of a snake.
Lateral movement is seen in Lions.
7. What body parts does a centipede use for moving?
Centipedes are arthropods that have jointed legs. They have long legs that grow in length towards the rear part of the body. Centipedes have only one pair of legs attached to each of their body segments. Centipedes undulate their body slightly while moving, which helps them to move fast.
