Cursorial

Cursorial refers to animals adapted for running, especially over ground. The term derives from Latin cursor, “runner,” and is used to describe both morphology and locomotion that favor rapid travel on open terrain.

Cursorial locomotion is characterized by elongated limbs, increased stride length, and limb architecture that favors fast ground contact and energy-efficient travel. In many species the distal digits are reduced or specialized; in others, a dominant toe bears most of the weight. In some ungulates the proximal digits are reduced, leaving a single functional toe in effect.

In mammals such as horses and cheetahs, the limbs are highly elongated to maximize stride length and speed. Horses often show a prominent, weight-bearing central digit, with other toes reduced. Cheetahs combine limb elongation with a highly flexible spine that increases stride length and accelerates quickly. In birds such as ostriches, the legs are long and powerful with tendons and muscles optimized for rapid forward propulsion, and many cursorial birds have reduced wings.

Ecologically, cursorial species typically inhabit open habitats where high running speeds help in escaping predators or pursuing prey. Speed can be coupled with endurance but involves trade-offs with energy expenditure and maneuverability on uneven terrain.

Examples of cursorial animals include the horse, gazelles and antelopes, cheetah, wolves, pronghorn, and various deer. Cursorial birds include the ostrich and emu. Evolution has produced cursorial adaptations in multiple, independently derived lineages, reflecting similar functional demands in open environments.