Evolution of Locomotion

Abstract

The evolution of animal locomotion straddles two big areas—what are the major trends in locomotion across the clade of animals (Metazoa) and how should the many principles and patterns of locomotion be analyzed in the context of evolutionary relationships? The first question is a broad examination across the metazoan tree and the second is a methodological issue that is central to locomotor analyses given the current abundance of phylogenies and the availability of computer power. Yet one cannot exist without the other. We need proper analysis tools to figure out the evolution of animal locomotion, and we need effective comparative datasets and phylogenies to run meaningful analyses. The goals of this chapter are twofold—to glean the fundamentals of locomotor evolution and to consider the pathways for performing rigorous evolutionary biomechanical analyses.