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cursorial (kur-SAWR-ee-uhl, kur-SOHR-ee-uhl) - (zool.) adj., adapted to or specialized for running.
Obligatory mention of cheetahs, but also horses and predators that chase-hunt, such as wolves. Contrast with arboreal, adapted to climbing trees, and fossorial, adapted to digging and living underground. Coined in the 1830s from Late Latin cursōrius, of running, from Latin cursor, runner, ultimately from PIE *ḱers-, to run -- which also gave us, ta da!, horse).
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
Obligatory mention of cheetahs, but also horses and predators that chase-hunt, such as wolves. Contrast with arboreal, adapted to climbing trees, and fossorial, adapted to digging and living underground. Coined in the 1830s from Late Latin cursōrius, of running, from Latin cursor, runner, ultimately from PIE *ḱers-, to run -- which also gave us, ta da!, horse).
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
