Victoria Di Camillo Teacher Resource Guide The Bone Basics Important bones to be able to identify when talking about movement include the following: • vertebrae (backbone) • sternum (chest bone) • clavicle (collar bone) • scapula (shoulder blade) • humerus (upper arm bone) • radius and ulna (lower arm bones) • femur (thighbone) • patella (kneecap) • tibia and fibula (lower leg bones) • pelvis (hip bone) • phalanges (finger and toe bones) Racoon Skeleton Running. … These animals require long, narrow bones for speed and agility. The longer limbs help the legs reach farther. The step is much bigger with longer legs than shorter legs! There are several differences between predator and prey builds: Predators Prey Back Small vertebrae for flexibility Vertebrae with large processes for stability Limbs Short, slender bones for quick Longer, thicker bones for weight bearing movement; and speed; Radius and ulna are separated for Radius and ulna are for limited rotation flexibility and a variety of movements during movement and better support; Smaller, fewer bones at the ends of the limbs for faster movement Feet Five separate digits; digitigrades= One to three major digits; unguligrades= move on the digits for speed and moving using the tips of the digits for agility speed Cat Horse A great website with much more detailed information on running mammals (also known as cursorial) is: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/topics/mammal_anatomy/running_fast.html Hippity Hoppers: Jumping These animals have strong hind limbs and small forelimbs. They often retain the tail for balance. The long feet help the animal push off the ground to get high in the air. The forelimbs are for balance, but the hindlimbs are for power Rabbit skeleton Jumping mouse skeleton Swingers and Climbers These animals have a strong clavicle (collar bone) and very long forelimbs. They need to reach other branches and hold on tight! They also retain the tail to use like another arm and for balance. Their mobile joints permit extra movement for gripping at weird angles. Generally, these animals are smaller in size. This makes it easier to lift themselves up into the air. The hands and feet have claws or pads for gripping branches. Chimpanzee skeleton Lemur skeleton Digging for Dirt Animals such as moles have shorter, thicker bones to create very strong forelimbs. They need to push away dirt for long periods and do it quickly! The strong bones act like levers and shovels for the mole. Their body shape includes a small, tapering head for easier forward motion into the soil. The hands are very wide with sharp nails, like shovels. Their large, strong chest and shoulders are key to digging well. They have lots of string muscles attached to them. Because these animals live mostly underground, they have small eyes but highly developed senses of hearing and smell. Flapping and Flying Bats are the only flying mammals. They have slender, lightweight bones for flight. The forelimbs (radius and ulna), and especially the phalanges (fingers), are elongated to create wings. They also need a strong clavicle (collar bone) to support flight. The wide wings catch air and by pushing down, the bat can go up! A key to identifying true flight is flapping. Gliding animals only fall slowly, at an angle. True flying animals can go up into the air! Bat wing sugar glider http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/topics/mammal_anatomy/bat_wings.html Swimming Free! These mammals have short, thick bones. In mammals that live in the water all the time, the forelimbs even shorter and fanlike to create flippers, and the hind limbs are often small or not visible. Other adaptations can vary due to length of time spent in the water, for example, whales and dolphins have many features similar to fish in terms of shape and outward appearance. However, seals and otters still have fur and whiskers are more clearly mammal-like. The body shape becomes more hydro-dynamic (able to move better in water). Think torpedo shaped! Additional resources: http://courses.washington.edu/chordate/453labs/453lab8-2010.pdf http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/cals/entomology/extension/outreach/upload/Sarah- Cudney-Locomotion-anatomy.pdf http://webecoist.com/2009/01/28/strange-animal-movement-means-locomotion/ .