quadrupedal

Walking on fours

Quadrupedal describes animals that walk on four feet or legs: quadrupedal locomotion, quadrupedal mammals.

Dogs, horses, and lizards are quadrupedal; humans and birds are not.

The word appears mainly in scientific or technical contexts when distinguishing four-legged movement from bipedal (two-legged) or other forms.

locomotion

gait

Locomotion pattern

trotPace between walk, canter
gallopSwiftest quadruped gait
canterModerate equine gait

amble · stride · pace · crawling · scamper · scurry · bound · leap · prowl · creep

anatomy

paws

Animal feet

hoovesUngulate foot coverings
forelimbsAnterior paired appendages
hindlimbsRear pair of legs

spine · vertebrae · shoulders · haunches · withers · fetlocks · pasterns · dewclaws · footpads · joints

stability

balance

Steadiness or amount owed

equilibriumState of balance
postureBody position, alignment
groundingConnecting to earth

surefootedness · footing · traction · center of gravity · base · steadiness · coordination · weight distribution · anchoring · stance

animals

dog

Domesticated barking mammal

catSmall furry housepet
horseDomesticated riding animal
lionManed African feline

tiger · elephant · bear · wolf · deer · rhinoceros · hippopotamus · giraffe · leopard · cheetah

Categories

primate traitsopposable thumbs, grasping hands, prehensile, binocular vision, arboreal
Bearsbear, bears, grizzly bear, brown bear, black bear
locomotionwalking, running, crawling, swimming, flying
primatesape, apes, baboon, baboons, monkey

Opposites

number of limbs used for locomotion

quadrupedalbipedal

Having two feet

two-legged · two-footed · biped · upright · six-legged

locomotion type

quadrupedallegless

Having no limbs

limbless · serpentine · slithering · aquatic · flying

Family

quadruped, quadrupeds

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G