– (Rivaldo Barboza)
No. Depending on the animal, it can turn, reverse, or sideways, but does not run out of action if it encounters an insurmountable obstacle. The shape and characteristics of each animal help to deduce how it moves: fish don’t usually swim backwards, for example. “What happens is that some animals, because they are less agile, prefer open environments to avoid collisions”, says Caio Isola, a biologist and researcher at UFSCar. In addition, certain species have physical limitations that prevent certain movements. Check out some examples on the board above and in the text below.
1) MOVING FORWARD
You crabs are known to walk sideways. But contrary to what many people think, they also manage to go forward, albeit more slowly. They just prefer to walk sideways because the bending movement of their paws favors this type of movement. The aratu, a species of crab that lives in the mangroves, even climbs trees.
2) ESCAPE FROM THE RAY
Although most of fish be able to back up, they almost never do unless they find themselves stuck in tight spots. Some species are exceptions: eels, moray eels and electric fish are more prone to movement. already some streaks they can even move backwards on the surface of the water. The effect is quite comical: see the video below.
3) GALINACEOUS MOONWALK
In addition to scratching backwards, chickens they can also reverse – there are recorded cases of owners who train them to do so. In 2010, attention was drawn to the city of Corupá, in Santa Catarina, by the case of a painful woman who only walked like that. Experts commented that she was probably born with a neurological problem.
4) ONE STEP BACK
kangaroo and emu they are animals that gained the reputation of not being able to reverse because of the coat of arms of Australia, which uses both to illustrate the idea of a nation that progresses, moves forward. Despite common sense, they do manage to go backwards, but they do so little. During a fight, for example, the kangaroo uses its tail to move backwards and dodge.
SOURCES Biology Institutes of UFRRJ and UFF, book The Little Giant Book of Animal Factsby Glen Vecchione
CONSULTANCY Marcelo de Carvalho, professor at the Institute of Biosciences at USP, Caio Isola, biologist and researcher at the Department of Biology at UFSCar