How Animals Move?

How Animals Move

Animals move for many reasons: to find food, to stay safe from danger, or to find a place to sleep. Because animals live in different places—like the sky, the ocean, or the forest—they have developed special body parts to help them get around.

Ways of Moving

1. On Land (Walking and Running) Most animals that live on land use legs.

• Four Legs: Dogs, cats, and elephants walk and run on four legs.
• Two Legs: Humans and birds (when they aren't flying) walk on two legs.
• Fast Runners: Cheetahs and ostriches have very strong leg muscles that help them sprint.

2. In the Air (Flying) Birds, bats, and many insects move through the air.

• Wings: These animals have wings that push against the air to lift them up.
• Flapping vs. Gliding: Some birds flap their wings quickly (like a hummingbird), while others glide on the wind (like an eagle).

3. In the Water (Swimming) Animals that live in rivers or oceans have bodies shaped like "torpedoes" to help them slide through the water easily.

• Fins and Tails: Fish use their tails to push through water and fins to steer.
• Webbed Feet: Ducks and frogs have skin between their toes that acts like a paddle.
• Flippers: Penguins and seals use flippers to "fly" through the water.

4. On the Ground (Slithering and Crawling) Some animals don't have any legs at all!

• Slithering: Snakes use their strong muscles and scales to "wiggle" across the ground in an S-shape.
• Crawling: Snails and slugs use one big "foot" on their tummy to slide slowly on a trail of slime.

Special Kinds of Movement Some animals have very unique ways of getting from point A to point B:

• Hopping and Jumping: Kangaroos, frogs, and grasshoppers have extra-long back legs that act like springs.
• Climbing: Monkeys use their long arms and sometimes their tails to swing through trees. Woodpeckers use sharp claws to climb up tree trunks.
• Swinging (Brachiation): Gibbons use their arms to swing from one branch to another like a pendulum.

Lesson Summary

• Animals walk, run, fly, swim, slither, or hop.
• They use different body parts like legs, wings, fins, or muscles.
• Their movement helps them survive in their environment.