Mammal Locomotion

Most mammals use all four limbs to move and so are called quadrupedal. Animals that spend most of their time walking are called ambulatory, and are generally plantigrade, which means that they walk on the soles of their hands and feet. Animals that do a lot of running are called cursorial, and are either digitigrade or unguligrade. Digitigrade mammals are mostly carnivores, and are called digitigrade because they run on their toes. Hoofed animals have unguligrade foot posture, which means that they have extended limbs with reduced digits, and elongated and fused tarsal bones. Another form of locomotion is saltatory locomotion, which includes jumping and ricocheting. Jumping is saltatory locomotion that uses all four feet, whereas ricocheting primarily only uses the two hind limbs, and most animals that use it are bipedal. Other types of locomotion include swimming, flying and gliding, and digging and burrowing.