Locomotion and Movement with difference
Locomotion and movement are two important terms in the study of movement and the most important characteristics of all living things. All living organisms, except plants, move from place to place in search of food, shelter, to escape predators, and for various reasons. Locomotion and Movement with difference
Both are the same term that is related to movement, but they are different from each other.
Difference between locomotion and movement
While both sound similar in meaning, there are some interesting differences between the two terms. Let’s better explore these concepts by understanding the difference between locomotion and movement:
Locomotion | Movement |
Moving away from the original position of an organism is locomotion. | Movement can occur with or without moving away from an organism’s original position. |
It is always voluntary. | It can be voluntary or involuntary. |
Locomotion takes place at the level of the organism. | A movement takes place at the biological level. |
Locomotion does not necessarily require energy | Movement requires energy. |
Locomotion and movement Locomotion and Movement with difference
What is locomotion ? Locomotion and Movement with difference
The movement of an organism from one place to another is known as locomotion. In this process, there is the action of appendages such as limbs, wings, and flagella . In some animals, such as fish, whales, and sharks, locomotion is the result of a series of wave-shaped muscle contractions. Locomotion helps an organism find food, avoid inclement weather, escape its predators, etc.
Some examples of locomotion are walking, running, swimming, etc. Movement, on the other hand, refers to any type of movement that does not need to be localized.
What is movement ?
Movement is generally defined as a state of change from position from rest to movement or vice versa. Movement can be both voluntary and involuntary. Movement helps an organism perform necessary functions, such as pumping blood to different parts of the body, etc.
For example, walking is a voluntary movement, while breathing is an involuntary movement.
Conclusion
Plants do not possess the ability to move from one place to another, but various types of movement occur within plants, including phototropism , hydrotropism, geotropism, thigmotropism, etc.
Animals exhibit the most fascinating forms of movement and locomotion and this is evident from the plethora of behavioral and evolutionary traits exhibited.
For example, one of the first groups of organisms to take flight are insects, which jumped into the air approximately 412 million years ago. The first vertebrates to take flight were pterosaurs, which evolved 320 million years ago. The ocean was a much more interesting place as organisms exhibited even more advanced forms of motion. Sharks, fish, whales and other aquatic species used their tails and fins to propel themselves through the ocean, but a group of animals including squid and jellyfish use jet propulsion to move through the water.
Frequent questions
What are the different types of locomotion?
Locomotion is the ability of an organism to move. Walking, running, swimming, jumping are the different types of locomotion.
How is locomotion different from movement?
Locomotion is the movement of a body from one place to another. Rather, movement is the displacement of a body or part of the body from its original position.