What results from the typical positioning of lizard limbs to the side of the body?
Answer
The characteristic sprawling gait
Lizards generally possess a standard anatomical blueprint featuring four well-developed limbs that are positioned laterally, meaning they attach to the sides of the body rather than directly underneath it, as seen in mammals. This configuration directly leads to the characteristic sprawling gait observed when most lizards move, whether walking or running. While effective for sudden, quick evasions or bursts of speed, this sprawling posture is inherently less efficient for covering long distances continuously compared to the more upright stance adopted by mammals, whose limbs are positioned beneath the torso.
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