Locomotion in water and air

Organisms who are challenged with moving through air or water as a way of locomotion are each posed with substantial mechanical problems. In air, animals must overcome the force of gravity and sustain force to stay aloft. Flying animals do this by generating lift. Lift is the positive net force of air beneath and above their wings. Flying organisms also often use local weather patterns to assist in generating lift. In water animals must move against water which is both dense and viscous. Fish use trunk and tail musculature to propel themselves through the water. Musculature is composed of bands called myomeres. In air, as objects become larger their overall speed tends to increase but their relative speed decreases. Meanwhile in water the smaller the organism the more viscous the environment is to that organism, making it more difficult to move.