Vertebrates move around their habitats in a variety of ways:

• Aquatic locomotion: feet/tail modified as flippers or fins, streamlined body shape
• Flight: forelimbs modified as wings
• Terrestrial locomotion: limbs long, feet small, may be well adapted for running
• Fossorial (digging): limbs with powerful claws, joints with levers adapted for powerful digging, limb bones sturdy
• Scansorial (climbing): limbs long, feet with curved claws for grasping

Specimen 1

1. To which class of vertebrates does this organism belong?
2. What type of habitat do you think this animal prefers?
3. List two adaptations that could give a clue about its lifestyle.

Specimen 2

1. Notice the leg bones on this skeleton. What type of locomotion is suggested by their length and shape?

Specimen 3

1. To what animal do you think this leg belongs? What sort of locomotion do you think it uses?

Specimen 4

1. This skeleton belongs to a house cat. Knowing what you do about the habits of domestic cats, describe two morphological characteristics that could assist this animal in its lifestyle.

Specimen 5

1. What sort of locomotion does this animal use? Explain what physical characteristic helped you determine the form(s) of locomotion.

Specimen 6

1. What sort of locomotion does this animal use?
2. How do the bones in its “arms” correspond to the bones in your own body?

Follow-up Questions

• What are the anatomical structures you used to allow you to match these specimens with each form of locomotion? 
• See above
• What are the characteristics you identified on each structure to make the associations?
  • Which of these structures are analogous? 
  • Which of these structures are homologous?