nonarboreal

Nonarboreal is a descriptive term used in biology to indicate that an organism does not habitually live in trees or rely on tree-associated activities. The word combines the prefix non- with arboreal, which means tree-dwelling or tree-climbing. As a label, nonarboreal is relative and largely context dependent; an animal described as nonarboreal is typically contrasted with one that is arboreal.

Usage and scope

Nonarboreal descriptions are common in ecological and behavioral accounts. They can apply to habitat preference, locomotion, and life history. The term does not denote a strict taxonomic category, but rather a general lifestyle category. An organism labeled nonarboreal is usually associated with ground, rock, subterranean, or aquatic environments rather than the forest canopy. Some species may occasionally climb or perch in trees but are still characterized as nonarboreal because tree-dwelling is not their primary or typical mode of life.

Examples

Ground-dwelling mammals such as armadillos and many rodents are commonly described as nonarboreal. Birds that spend most of their time on the ground, such as certain galliforms, can also be considered nonarboreal. Among invertebrates and other groups, many insects, crustaceans, and amphibians inhabit terrestrial or aquatic habitats rather than trees, and thus are described as nonarboreal.

Relation to other terms

Nonarboreal is often discussed alongside arboreal, terrestrial, fossorial, and aquatic descriptors. While related, these terms highlight different aspects of habitat use or locomotion and are chosen to reflect the most relevant ecological or behavioral context.

See also: arboreal, terrestrial, fossorial, aquatic.