Digitigrade

Digitigrade refers to an animal or organism that stands or walks on its digits, or toes. Digitigrades include walking birds (like pigeons), cats, dogs, and many other mammals. They generally move more quietly and quickly than other animals.

Characteristics

Digitigrades have elongated metacarpals and metatarsals, the bones to which the digits are attached. This elongation effectively increases the length of the leg, allowing for greater speed. Digitigrades also have relatively short phalanges (the bones in the digits themselves), which adds to the overall length of the leg without adding unnecessary weight.

Comparison with other locomotion types

Digitigrade locomotion is in contrast to plantigrade locomotion, where the animal walks on the whole of the foot, and unguligrade locomotion, where the animal walks on the tips of its toes, which are often modified into hooves.

Examples

Examples of digitigrade animals include:

• Cats: Domestic cats are digitigrades. They walk on their toes, using only a small part of their foot.
• Dogs: Like cats, dogs are also digitigrades. They walk on their toes, not touching the ground with their heels.
• Birds: Most birds are digitigrades. They walk on their toes, with the rest of their foot lifted off the ground.

See also

• Locomotion
• Plantigrade
• Unguligrade

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