Go back to SARS-CoV-2

Locomotion

Due to similarities in shape and build, SARS-CoV-2 moves the same way as dogs. Though, with the use of two extra front legs. Also like dogs, SARS-CoV-2 is digitigrade, meaning that virions walk on their toes, rather than on their entire feet (like humans do for example). This helps them to move faster, especially when running.

Gait

Double Suspension gait. The virion runs full speed and there are moments where he has all six paws off the ground.

More gaits are shown in this video (video is not mine and it shows a dog, not SARS-CoV-2).

Like there are virions build for strength, there are virions build for speed. These virions generally resemble fast running dog breeds, such as the greyhound, saluki and borzoi for example.

Swimming

The way SARS-CoV-2 swims at normal speed is similar to how a dog swims; slowly paddling with all paws. At full speed though, a virion usually keeps his front legs pressed against the body, while his rear end moves up and down and his back legs make backward kicking movements in order to propel the body forward. Because the paws are equipped with webbing, virions basically use them as paddles while swimming. While under water, the tails move like snakes and synchronized, and they are used as stirs when the virion needs to quickly make a turn. Though, this is best visible in virions with long tails.

Virions with upright standing ears keep their ears flattened against their neck. Like keeping the front legs pressed against the body, flattening the ears helps with making the body as streamlined as possible, and thus reaching higher speed under water.

Walking On Walls And Ceiling?

Thanks to the hair-like structure on the pawpads, virions are able to perfectly stick to walls and ceiling like a gecko or spider. They can also walk on walls and ceiling, but they'll move in a more lizard-like way, because walking normally is harder due to gravity pulling at their body weight. This way, even the heaviest virions can stick and walk on walls and ceiling.