Question

Tetrapods exhibit a variety of forms of locomotion (e.g. Saltatorial, Cursorial, and Aerial). WHat adaptions have arisen in their appendicular musculature to support this movement?

Answer 1

Answer:-

Adaptation is a process by which an organism becomes better suited to it’s habitat. One of the example is skeletal adaptation that exhibits several different types of locomotion found in the animals.

In case of tetrapod appendicular musculature, it is much complex because the limbs function in both support and locomotion. Here the dorsal and ventral appendicular muscles become more prominent as the limbs assume the role of producing locomotor forces for particular type of locomotion and adapted such as the dorsal muscles are used to abduct or extend the appendages and the ventral muscles are used for adduction or flexion.

There is a small contribution from the axial muscles. Again, however, there is a trend for these muscle masses to split and divide forming many distinct muscles that increase the complexity of the limb musculature.

Each of different organism also requires modifications in the skeletal system (in terms of the parts of the body that receive the most stress) and the associated musculature to exhibit that forms of locomotion (e.g. Saltatorial, Cursorial, and Aerial).