Abstract The aim of this paper is to show how animals can orient themselves in relation to a stimulation gradient or exploid patchy environments using simple kinetic mechanisms. From a new look at klinokinesis and orthokinesis, the properties of these two mechanisms were determined and their respective contributions to the phenomenon of animal aggregation in the most suitable areas of the environment were specified. When movement regulation is a function of variations in the stimulus intensity, klinokinesis can be seen as an elementary spatial orientation mechanism, whereas orthokinesis seems to have no biological application. In contrast, when movement regulation is a function of the value of stimulus intensity, klinokinesis and orthokinesis can both be seen as elementary space-use mechanisms. Some examples of applications of the models are given. In particular, it is suggested how klinokinetic and orthokinetic models can formalize the ‘area-restricted’ searching behaviour exhibited by many foraging animals. Finally, the place of klinokinetic and orthokinetic mechanisms in the framework of a general theory of spatial orientation and space use in animals is discussed.