Items41The creator’s order
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Green Crested BasiliskEach hind foot drives down into the water to help support the lizard’s weight. Quick alternating steps carry it over the surface, giving this streamside lizard an escape route when it’s startled.0 - 2
Sandfish SkinkThe sandfish folds its limbs close once it dives into loose sand. X-ray recordings reveal a wave traveling along the body, much like a fish swimming, that pushes the lizard through the grains without paddling its legs.0 - 3
Moroccan Flic-Flac SpiderA threatened flic-flac spider can break into a series of flips, pushing off with its legs between rotations. The maneuver gives it a rapid escape over the dunes and works even on an uphill slope.0 - 4
Emperor PenguinA penguin can drop to its belly and toboggan across snow or ice. Its feet push it along, and its flippers can both steer and help it move forward through soft snow. The belly slide saves effort on long trips across the ice.0 - 5
Sidewinder RattlesnakeA sidewinder lifts arches of its body and lays down another section farther sideways. The parts touching the sand stay planted instead of sliding forward, leaving a series of offset tracks where the arches touch down.0 - 6
Namib Golden MoleShort, powerful forelimbs pull the mole through soft sand, and the compact head parts the grains along the way. Unlike a permanent tunnel, the route closes behind it. The mole can travel below the surface of loose dunes, where a fixed burrow would collapse.0 - 7
Mother-of-Pearl Moth CaterpillarThe caterpillar arches backward, curls into a loop and rolls away when disturbed. The photograph catches the first bend that starts the retreat. Pulling the whole body into a wheel gives it a quick alternative to crawling.0 - 8
Eastern Eyed Click BeetleStuck on its back, this beetle arches at a hinge between two body segments. A latch holds the bend until the beetle releases it with a click. The sudden snap throws it into the air, where it can turn and land on its feet.0 - 9
Trap-Jaw AntThis trap-jaw ant can strike the ground with its mandibles to catapult itself away. The side view shows how far the jaws reach. The same parts that help it catch prey can move the ant’s whole body when they close against a solid surface.0 - 10
Red KangarooAt a slow pace, a red kangaroo sets its tail and front feet on the ground so it can bring both hind feet forward together. The muscular tail supports its weight and actively pushes it ahead. It acts as a fifth limb when the kangaroo is walking instead of hopping.0
