talpú

Talpú is a zoological term used to describe animals that walk with the sole of the foot on the ground, a locomotion type known as plantigrade. In Hungarian scientific usage, talpú állatok are those that bear weight on the entire sole, as opposed to digitigrade (on the toes) or unguligrade (on the hooves) locomotion. The word derives from talp, meaning sole or paw, with the suffix -ú indicating “having” or “characterized by.”

In practice, talpú locomotion is associated with stability and a broad, ground-contact feel, often allowing greater balance on varied terrain. The posture and limb distribution can influence movement speed and climbing ability, and many talpú species retain flexible digits with claws or nails that aid foraging, grasping, or digging. The term is most commonly used in comparative anatomy and paleontology to classify and compare foot structure and gait across taxa.

Examples commonly cited as talpú include humans and other primates, bears, beavers, raccoons (and related taxa), and several other mammal groups. The term helps contrast plantigrade (talpú) walking with digitigrade walking (on toes) and unguligrade walking (on hooves), which are characteristic of many carnivores, rodents, and ungulates, respectively. While talpú remains primarily a descriptive or functional term, it also provides a useful framework for discussing evolutionary adaptations, locomotor mechanics, and fossil foot morphology in extinct species.