Running squirrel motion breakdown

One more motion analysis on a squirrel, this time it's running. The footage starts with the squirrel sitting in a resting pose before beginning it's run.

This arc is most noticeable on it's initial leap, after this leap the arcs in the squirrels' running motion become more subtle and wavy.

After the squirrel lands on it's front paws, the rest of it's body (except the tail) squishes up against it's front legs.

I noticed the squirrel's left front leg would lift immediately after it's hind legs make contact with the ground. It's front right leg stays on the ground just long enough for it's hind legs to land.

The squirrels' entire body stretches forward as it outstretches it's forelegs.

The front left leg, which lifted first, also touches down first. The squirrels body keeps shifting forward while it's rear legs outstretch from behind.

Once the squirrel's front legs both have solid footing, it pulls itself forward while it's rears snap forward from their previous extended position, almost like elastic.

Something else I noticed, generally when the squirrel lunges forward, it's head is higher than it's hips. When it catches itself on it's forelegs, it's hips raise above it's head.

The motion continues this way as it runs, the only other thing I noticed is how subtle the tails' motion is.