plantigrade mammal
- noun
- /ˈplæntɪˌɡreɪd ˈmæməl/
- Specialized
:
mamífero plantígrado
- The bear is a classic example of a plantigrade mammal because it walks with its entire foot on the ground.
Examples
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Humans are considered plantigrade mammals, unlike cats and dogs, which walk on their toes.
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In evolutionary biology, the distinction between digitigrade and plantigrade mammals is important for understanding locomotion.
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A bear is a type of plantigrade mammal.
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Humans are classified as plantigrade mammals.
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Humans are considered plantigrade mammals, unlike cats and dogs, which walk on their toes.
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The bear is a classic example of a plantigrade mammal because it walks with its entire foot on the ground.
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In evolutionary biology, the distinction between digitigrade and plantigrade mammals is important for understanding locomotion.
Antonyms
How Flat-Footed
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: the adjective 'plantigrade' (walking with the entire sole touching the ground) simply modifies 'mammal', yielding 'a mammal that walks with the entire sole touching the ground.' This adjective–noun structure is a standard, predictable pattern so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will understand it, although 'plantigrade' itself is somewhat technical.
Etymology
Plantigrade mammal comes from a simple image: an animal that walks with the whole sole of its foot on the ground. Bears and humans move this way, so the phrase means 'a mammal that walks with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground'.