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Difference Between Locomotion and Movement with Types

Difference between locomotion and movement is that locomotion is whole-body movement from place to place, usually voluntary. In contrast, movement refers to any organismal motion, voluntary or not.
authorImageKrati Saraswat23 May, 2025
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Difference Between Locomotion and Movement

Difference between locomotion and movement:  Movement is a change in position from rest to motion or from motion to rest. Movement can be voluntary or involuntary. Movement allows an organism to execute various critical duties, such as pumping blood to different body regions. The human body's motions get smoother with age. Locomotion can be described as the movement of a living thing from one location to another.

The action of appendages like wings, limbs, and flagella accomplishes the locomotion. In particular beings, such as fish, whales, and sharks, locomotion is carried out by a succession of wave-like muscular contractions. Read the article for complete details about the difference between locomotion and movement.
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Difference between locomotion and movement Overview

Locomotion is defined as an organism's movement from one location to another. Humans and other organisms use numerous bodily components, such as legs and feet, fins and tails, wings, etc., to travel from one location to another. On the other hand, humans use vehicles, boats, and aeroplanes to get from one location to another.  Movement includes all types of motion. It can happen at any level, whether atomic, cellular, or inside an organ. Additionally, movement might be either voluntary or involuntary. Clapping your hands represents intentional action, whereas breathing represents involuntary activity. Locomotion is an example of movement, according to the definition.

Difference Between Locomotion and Movement

Movement and locomotion are two terms used in the study of motion. These terms are among the most essential characteristics of all living things. Except for plants, all living species migrate from one location to another for various reasons, including the quest for food, shelter, and protection from predators. The difference between locomotion and movement is given in the table below.

Difference Between Locomotion and Movement
Basis Locomotion Movement
Definition The movement of the entire body from one location to another in a precise direction is called locomotion. The motion that occurs with or without moving away from an organism's original position is called movement.
Original Position It might happen when the organism moves away from its original spot. It can happen with or without the organism moving away from its original place.
Level It takes place at the organismal level. It takes place on a biological level.
Voluntariness Locomotion is usually voluntary. There are two types of movement: voluntary and involuntary.
Energy Requirement It does not always necessitate the use of energy. It necessitates the use of energy.
Types Aerial, arboreal, aquatic, cursorial, fossorial, and saltatorial are the types of locomotion. Amoeboid, ciliary, and muscular are the types of movement.
Examples Walking, running, flying, swimming, and jumping are examples of locomotion. Movement of the limbs, tongue, and jaw are examples of movement.
Basis It is based on the movement of the entire body. It is based on motion with or without changing the organism's original position.

Locomotion

Locomotion is the ability of an organism to move from one location to another. Creating motion and propelling the body through its surroundings necessitates the coordinated activity of several bodily components. Humans and animals use locomotion to move around their different environments, which includes walking, crawling, running, flying, and swimming. Transportation is also an excellent mode of transportation for getting from one location to another. Organisms employ bodily components such as limbs and wings to avoid adverse weather, escape predators, etc. The animal kingdom has numerous forms of locomotion:

  • Walking : It is a locomotion that may be observed in terrestrial animals and humans. It includes moving one or more limbs while keeping contact with the ground.
  • Running : It is a faster movement mode than walking, including periods when both feet are off the ground.
  • Crawling : During the early phases of development, snakes and mammals drag their bodies over the ground to travel from one location to another.
  • Flying : It is a movement away from the ground in the air that can be seen in birds, insects, bats, and other animals.

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Movement

Movement is a broader phrase that refers to any change in the position or posture of an organism or its physical components. It includes a more extensive variety of activities outside the movement. Locomotion is one of its primary examples. Internal movement includes muscular contraction, breathing, and food digestion, whereas exterior movements include bending, stretching, flexing, or pointing. In the human body, cells display three types of motion, which are as follows:

  • Amoeboid movement is a cellular movement that occurs in eukaryotic cells such as amoebae and white blood cells. These cells change their form and travel for nourishment, chemical signals, or to avoid dangerous chemicals.
  • Ciliary movement is the coordinated and rhythmic structure known as cilia. It is detected in ciliated eukaryotic cells. Ciliary movement is critical for sustaining good respiratory and physiological functioning in species that have cilia.

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Difference Between locomotion and movement FAQs

What is the fundamental difference between locomotion and movement?

Movement constitutes the temporary displacement of body parts, whereas locomotion involves displacing the entire body from its original location.

What are the three distinct types of locomotion?

The three types of locomotion are flight, swimming, and land locomotion. Different animals adapt their locomotion based on specific environmental demands.

Why are both movement and locomotion deemed essential for living organisms?

Movement is an inherent characteristic of all living organisms, and locomotion plays a vital role in facilitating crucial activities such as defence, acquiring food, and seeking shelter.

What mechanisms does a cockroach employ for its locomotion?

Cockroaches utilize both walking and flying for locomotion. Three pairs of legs facilitate walking while flying, which is achieved with the assistance of wings.

What is the distinctive movement pattern of earthworms?

Certainly, earthworms showcase crawling movement through the independent contractions of segments. This unique ability allows for shape changes along the entire body length.
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