pedal locomotion
Quick Summary
Pedal locomotion is a method of movement where propulsion is generated by waves of contraction passing through the ventral musculature, which is in contact with the surface. This type of locomotion is slow and results in a gliding motion, superficially resembling ciliary locomotion. It is observed in larger flatworms and is the primary mode of movement for gastropod and amphineuran mollusks like snails and chitons.1
In these mollusks, the foot is highly muscular and capable of generating multiple contraction waves. These waves can be direct, moving in the same direction as the animal, or retrograde, moving in the opposite direction. The interaction of these waves with the surface allows for slow, continuous gliding.1
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