Fish on the Move
Which structure’s sequential contraction produces lateral undulation in fish?
A) Myofibrils
B) Myomeres
C) Tendons
D) Sclerotomes
What are myomeres?
Which amphibian uses saltation (jumping) as its main locomotion?
A) Salamander
B) Caecilian
C) Frog
D) Newt
What is the frog?
Which type of muscle fiber dominates in fast reptiles like monitor lizards?
A) Red
B) White
C) Mixed
D) Smooth
What are white fibers?
Which two muscles power the flight stroke in most birds?
A) Biceps and triceps
B) Pectoralis major and supracoracoideus
C) Gastrocnemius and iliotibialis
D) Latissimus and deltoid
What are the pectoralis major and supracoracoideus?
The cheetah’s spinal flexion is powered mainly by which muscle?
A) Gluteus maximus
B) Longissimus dorsi
C) Pectoralis major
D) Rectus femoris
What is the longissimus dorsi?
The hammerhead shark relies mostly on which muscle region for propulsion bursts?
A) Pectoral fins
B) Gill arches
C) Caudal peduncle
D) Dorsal ridge
What is the caudal peduncle?
The frog’s gastrocnemius helps with what movement?
A) Knee flexion
B) Ankle extension
C) Arm retraction
D) Toe spreading
What is ankle extension?
Gecko red fibers allow for what sustained locomotor ability?
A) Running
B) Climbing
C) Swimming
D) Digging
What is climbing?
Ostriches store and release energy through which structure?
A) Beak
B) Feathers
C) Tendons
D) Pectoral girdle
What are tendons?
The kangaroo’s tendons act as what biomechanical feature?
A) Levers
B) Springs
C) Anchors
D) Brakes
What are springs?
Tuna maintain high body temperatures using what feature?
A) Swim bladder
B) Rete mirabile
C) Heat glands
D) Gill fans
What is rete mirabile?
Salamanders combine axial bending with limb swing to move in what environments?
A) Only terrestrial
B) Only aquatic
C) Both aquatic and terrestrial
D) Arboreal
What are aquatic and terrestrial locomotion?
The caudofemoralis muscle provides what function in reptiles?
A) Hindlimb retraction
B) Neck stabilization
C) Tail curling
D) Arm extension
What is hindlimb retraction?
Nearly all of a pigeon’s flight fibers are what type?
A) Red (oxidative)
B) White (glycolytic)
C) Mixed
D) Smooth
What are red fibers?
Dolphins generate thrust with which paired muscle groups?
A) Epaxials and hypaxials
B) Pectorals and abdominals
C) Flexors and extensors
D) Cervicals and caudals
What are the epaxial and hypaxial muscles?
Hagfish muscles are primarily composed of which fiber type?
A) White
B) Red
C) Mixed
D) Blue
What is red?
The caecilian’s annular and trunk muscles help it do what?
A) Swim
B) Jump
C) Burrow
D) Glide
What is burrow?
Skinks combine axial bending and limb use, showing a transition between:
A) Flying and swimming
B) Burrowing and digging
C) Aquatic and terrestrial movement
D) Jumping and gliding
What are aquatic and terrestrial movements?
Loon locomotion benefits from legs positioned:
A) Far forward
B) Directly under the body
C) Posteriorly near the tail
D) At mid-body
What is posteriorly near the tail?
The armadillo’s strong pectoral muscles are adapted for what?
A) Running
B) Climbing
C) Digging
D) Swimming
What is digging?
A fish’s thrust efficiency increases with which factor?
A) High body stiffness
B) Reduced body flex
C) Optimized amplitude of lateral flexion
D) Shorter tail length
What is optimized amplitude of lateral flexion?
Frogs have mostly white fibers in their hindlimbs for what reason?
A) Oxygen storage
B) Power bursts during jumping
C) Maintaining posture
D) Energy conservation during rest
What are power bursts during jumping?
Reptile locomotion is strongly affected by what environmental factor?
A) Sunlight angle
B) Air pressure
C) Body temperature
D) Soil texture
What is body temperature (ectothermy)?
Avian flight muscles stay cool through what mechanism?
A) Feather insulation
B) Countercurrent blood flow
C) Panting
D) Air sac pressure
What is countercurrent blood flow?
Which two animals independently evolved red, aerobic flight muscles?
A) Cheetah and dolphin
B) Bat and bird
C) Frog and ostrich
D) Gecko and kangaroo
What are bats and birds?