Adjective: digitigrade 'di-ji-tu,greyd
- (of mammals) walking on the toes with the posterior part of the foot raised (as cats, dogs, and horses do)
"The digitigrade stance of cheetahs contributes to their incredible speed"
- An animal that walks so that only the toes touch the ground as e.g. dogs and cats and horses
"Cats are digitigrade mammals, which allows them to move quietly and efficiently";
- digitigrade mammal
Derived forms: digitigrades
Type of: eutherian, eutherian mammal, placental, placental mammal
Antonym: plantigrade
Encyclopedia: Digitigrade