quadrupeds
Animals with four
Quadrupeds are four-footed animals.
The term appears in scientific and formal contexts to distinguish creatures that walk on four legs from bipeds (two-legged) or other forms: Most mammals are quadrupeds.
The word can sound deliberately technical or old-fashioned in casual speech: The quadrupeds in question were three goats and a donkey.
Animal feet
- hoovesUngulate foot coverings
- tailsRear animal appendages
- furAnimal body hair
- maneNeck hair, horse/lion
antlers · horns · whiskers · snout · haunches · hindquarters · forelegs · hind legs
Hair-bearing, milk-producing animals
- vertebratesAnimals with internal skeletons
- carnivoresAnimals eating only meat
- herbivoresFauna consuming only plants
- omnivoresCreatures consuming both kingdoms
rodents · primates · marsupials · canines · felines · ungulates · ruminants · bovines
Swift foot travel
- walkingLocomotion on foot
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- stalkingStealthy, persistent pursuit
chasing · fleeing · stampeding · herding · roaming · wandering · migration · territorial
Steadiness or amount owed
- equilibriumState of balance
- postureBody position, alignment
- footingSecure ground position
- groundingConnecting to earth
stance · steadiness · surefootedness · center of gravity · weight distribution · planted · braced · sturdy
paws
Animal feet
mane · antlers · horns · whiskers · snout · haunches · hindquarters · forelegs · hind legs · spine
gallop
Swiftest quadruped gait
amble · lope · walk · bound · leap · scamper · scurry · prance · prowl · waddle
mammals
Hair-bearing, milk-producing animals
- vertebratesAnimals with internal skeletons
- carnivoresAnimals eating only meat
- herbivoresFauna consuming only plants
omnivores · rodents · primates · marsupials · canines · felines · ungulates · ruminants · bovines · equines
running
Swift foot travel
stalking · chasing · fleeing · stampeding · herding · roaming · wandering · migration · territorial · pacing
balance
Steadiness or amount owed
- equilibriumState of balance
- postureBody position, alignment
- footingSecure ground position
grounding · stance · steadiness · surefootedness · center of gravity · weight distribution · planted · braced · sturdy · anchored