The Science of Animal Movement: How Critters Climb

The Science of Animal Movement: How Critters Climb — page 3
6 A squirrels ankles rotate to allow its claws to hook onto bark as it climbs down a tree Then the squirrel climbs down the tree headfirst The claws on its back feet can still cling to the bark That is because a squirrel can rotate its ankles backward This lets the squirrel's claws also point backward They can hook onto the bark The critter's short limbs keep its body close to the tree The squirrel can better control its movement