Cursorial

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cursorial is a biological term that describes an organism as being adapted specifically to run. It is typically used in conjunction with an animal's feeding habits or another important adaptation. For example, a horse can be considered a "cursorial grazer", while a cheetah may be considered a "cursorial predator"

[edit] In evolutionary theory

The cursorial (or Ground-Up) theory of the evolution of flight is the theory that avian dinosaurs evolved from ground-living theropods, as opposed to arboreal species. This refers to the presumed cursorial nature of theropod dinosaurs, and the fact that their flight apparatus may have been adapted to improve cursorial hunting (by lengthening leaps and improving manoeuvrability during these leaps).

[edit] See also

• Fossorial