Which term means walking on toes?

• A. Digitigrade
• B. Plantigrade
• C. Biped
• D. Ungulate

Answer: (A)

Walking on the toes is described by digitigrade locomotion, where the animal’s weight is placed on its digits (toes) with the heel lifted off the ground. This toe-first stance is common in animals like cats and dogs, allowing quicker takeoffs and efficient running. In contrast, plantigrade locomotion uses the entire foot, including the sole and heel, as seen in humans and bears. The term biped refers to having two legs rather than a specific foot-ground contact pattern, and ungulate refers to hoofed animals, which is about the presence of a hoof rather than exactly how the foot contacts the ground. So, walking on the toes is best described as digitigrade.