Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Evolution of Terrestrial Locomotion

  • Chapter
Major Patterns in Vertebrate Evolution

Part of the book series: NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series ((NSSB,volume 14))

Abstract

Although the derivation of tetrapods from rhipidistians is now generally accepted (Szarski, 1962 and this volume; Schaeffer, 1965; Schmalhausen, 1968; Jarvik, 1968), the selective pressures which led to terrestrial locomotion are still an area of dispute. Nearly all workers in this field have agreed that the tetrapod limb evolved as a locomotor organ which allowed movement away from the pond or swamp habitat of the rhipidistians and onto the land. Both biotic and abiotic stimuli have been invoked as the proximate factors pushing the Rhipidistia landward.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Barclay, O.R., 1946, The mechanics of amphibian locomotion. J. Exper. Biol., 23: 177.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolt, J.R., 1969, Lissamphibian origins: possible protolissamphi- bian from the Lower Permian of Oklahoma. Science 166: 888.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brandle, K., 1968, Die Bewegungsweise sechsbeiniger Axolotl mit verlangertem Ruckenmark, Zool. Anz., suppl. 32: 448.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandle, K., and Szekely, G., 1973, The control of alternating coordination of limb pairs in the newt Triturus vulgaris), Brain Behay. Evol., 8: 366.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Coghill, G.E., 1929, “Anatomy and the problem of behavior,” Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowles, R.B., 1958, Additional notes on the origin of the tetrapods. Evol., 12: 419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, C.B., 1967, Cutaneous respiration and the origin of the modern Amphibia. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond., 178: 37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daan, S. and Belterman, T., 1968, Lateral bending in locomotion of some lower tetrapods. Proc. Ned. Akad. Wetten., ser. C, 71: 245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean, B., 1906, Notes on the living specimens of the Australia lungfish, Ceratodus forsteri, in the Zoological Society’s collection, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond., 1906: 168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eaton, T.H., Jr. and Stewart, P.L., 1960, A new order of fishlike Amphibia from the Pennsylvanian of Kansas. Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. Hist., 12: 217.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edwards, J.L., 1976, A comparative study of locomotion in terrestrial salamanders, unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of California.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes, R., 1965, Fossil salamanders and salamander origins. Amer. Zool., 5: 319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewer, D.W., 1955, Tetrapod limb. Science 122: 467.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Faber, J., 1956, The development and coordination of larval limb movements in Triturus taeniatus and Ambystoma mexicanum (with some notes on adult locomotion in Triturus). Arch. Neerl. Zool., 11: 498.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feduccia, J.A., 1971, The origin of terrestrial Amphibia. Tex. J. Sci., 22: 255.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goin, C.J. and Goin, 0.B., 1956, Further comments on the origin of tetrapods. Evol., 10: 440.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J., 1944, Studies in the mechanics of the tetrapod skeleton. J. Exper. Biol., 20: 88.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gray, J., 1968, “Animal locomotion,” Weidenfeld and Nicolson, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grillner, S., 1975, Locomotion in vertebrates: central mechanisms and reflex interaction. Physiol. Rev., 55: 247.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gunter, G., 1956, Origin of the tetrapod limb. Science 123:495.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hesse, R., 1935, Die Tierkorper als selbstandinger Organismus, in “Tierbau und Tierleben,” (R. Hesse and F. Doflein, eds.), Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand, M., 1965, Symmetrical gaits of horses. Science 150: 701.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand, M., 1966, Analysis of the symmetrical gaits of tetrapods. Fol. Biotheor., ser. B, 6: 9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildebrand, M., 1974, “Analysis of vertebrate structure,” John Wiley and Sons, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holman, J.A., 1969, Predation and the origin of tetrapods. Science 164: 588.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Howell, A.B., 1944, “Speed in animals. Their specialization for running and leaping,” reprint by Hafner Publishing Company, New York, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inger, R.F., 1957, Ecological aspects of the origin of the tetrapods. Evol., 11: 373.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jarvik, E., 1942, On the structure of the snout of crossopterygians and lower gnathostomes in general. Zool. Bidrag Uppsala, 21: 235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvik, E., 1960, “Theories de l’evolution des vertebres reconsiderees a la lumieres des recentes decouvertes sur les vertebres inferieurs,” Masson et Companie, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jarvik, E., 1968, Aspects of vertebrate phylogeny, in “Current problems of lower vertebrate phylogeny,” (T. Orvig, ed.), pp. 497–527, Almquist and Wiksell, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnels, A.G. and Svensson, G.S.O., 1954, On the biology of Protopterus annectens (Owen). Ark. Zool., 7: 131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miner, R.W., 1925, The pectoral limb of Eryops and other primitive tetrapods. Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist., 51: 145.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson, E.C., 1976, The exploitation of land by early tetrapods. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. Lond. (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Orton, G.L., 1954, Original adaptive significance of the tetrapod limb. Science 120: 1042.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, T.S. and Williams, E.E., 1963, The relationships of the modern Amphibia: a re-examination. Quart. Rev. Biol., 30: 26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peabody, F.E., 1959, Trackways of living and fossil salamanders. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool., 63: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rohdendorf, B.B., 1970, The importance of insects in the evolution of land vertebrates. Paleontol. J., 4: 5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romer, A.S., 1941, The first land animals. Nat. Hist., 48: 236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Romer, A.S., 1958, Tetrapod limbs and early tetrapod life. Evol., 12: 365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roos, P.J., 1964, Lateral bending in newt locomotion. Proc. Ned. Akad. Wetten., ser. C, 67: 223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schaeffer, B., 1965, The rhipidistian-amphibian. Amer. Zool., 5: 267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmalhausen, I.I., 1957, Biological basis of the origin of the tetrapods. Izvest. Acad. Sci. U. R. S. S., 1: 3 (in Russian).

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmalhausen, I.I., 1968, “The origin of terrestrial vertebrates,” Academic Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slijper, E.J., 1941, De Voortbewegingsorganen, in “Leerboek der vergelijkende ontleekunde van de vertebraten,” (E.W. Ihle, ed.), pp. 95–222, Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukhanov, V.B., 1974, “General system of symmetrical locomotion of terrestrial vertebrates and some features of movement of lower tetrapods,” Amerind Publishing Company, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Szarski, H., 1962, The origin of the Amphibia. Quart. Rev. Bio., 37: 189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Szekely, G. and Czeh, G., 1967, Localization of motoneurones in the limb moving spinal cord segments of Ambystoma. Acta Physiol. Acad. Scient. Hung., 32: 3.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Szekely, G., Czeh, G., and Voros, G., 1969, The activity pattern of limb muscles in freely moving normal and deafferented newts. Exper. Brain Res., 9: 53.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, K.S., 1968, A critical review of the diphyletic theory of rhipidistian-amphibian relationships, in “Current problems of lower vertebrate phylogeny,” (T. Orvig, ed.), pp. 285–305, Almquist and Wiksell, Stockholm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, K.S., 1969, The biology of the lobe-finned fishes. Biol. Rev., 44: 91.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomson, K.S., 1972, New evidence on the evolution of the paired fins of Rhipidistia and the origin of the tetrapod limb, with description of a new genus of Osteolepidae. Postilla Peabody Mus., 157: 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warburton, F.E. and Denman, N.S., 1961, Larval competition and the origin of tetrapods. Evol., 15: 566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Zoology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, 48824, USA

    James L. Edwards

Authors
  1. James L. Edwards
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York, USA

    Max K. Hecht  & Bessie M. Hecht  & 

  2. Royal Veterinary College of the University of London, London, England

    Peter C. Goody

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1977 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Edwards, J.L. (1977). The Evolution of Terrestrial Locomotion. In: Hecht, M.K., Goody, P.C., Hecht, B.M. (eds) Major Patterns in Vertebrate Evolution. NATO Advanced Study Institutes Series, vol 14. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8851-7_20

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-8851-7_20

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-8853-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-8851-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation