Terrestrial locomotion

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Terrestrial locomotion is the method of movement of an organism on land. It is of great interest in the study of evolution, which determines that aquatic organisms adapted to terrestrial environments. Animal locomotion on land experiences buoyancy to a lesser extent, and gravity to a greater extent. Evolutionary taxonomy establishes three basic forms of terrestrial locomotion: legged – moving by using appendages. limbless locomotion – moving without legs, primarily using the body itself as a propulsive structure. rolling – rotating the body over a substrate On land, diverse terrains demand different locomotive styles. A sliding component to locomotion only becomes possible on slippery surfaces (such as ice and snow), where locomotion is aided by potential energy, or on loose surfaces (such as sand or scree), where friction is low but purchase (traction) is difficult. Humans, especially, have adapted to sliding over terrestrial snowpack and terrestrial ice by means of ice skates, snow skis...

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