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saltigrade

/ˈsɔltəˌɡreɪd/
/ˈsæltəˌɡreɪd/
IPA guide

Other forms: saltigrades

Saltigrade spiders and other organisms are those that move by leaping or jumping. Jumping spiders, in particular, are themselves sometimes referred to as saltigrades.

Saltigrade comes from Latin and is made up of two parts: saltus, meaning "a leap," and gradior, meaning "to walk." The specific scientific family name for jumping spiders is Salticidae. If you see a small spider tracking a fly and suddenly leaping across your desk, you're watching saltigrade movement in action. The term saltigrade contrasts with gressorial, "walking," and cursorial, "running," movements. Besides jumping spiders, other saltigrade creatures are fleas, grasshoppers, and frogs.

Definitions of saltigrade
  1. noun
    a jumping spider belonging to the family Salticidae
  2. adjective
    being adapted for leaping, usually referring to jumping spiders
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