Fossorial

Fossorial is a phrase used to describe the legs of some insects and other invertebrates that are modified for digging.

Fossorial limbs can be found on insects such as mole crickets. The fore limbs are enlarged and powerful and well adapted for digging.

A photograph of a Mole Cricket (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa). Mole crickets have fossorial front legs.

Related terms

• Cursorial
• Hypogeic
• Orthoptera
• Raptorial
• Saltatorial

Related groups of terms

• General biology
• Invertebrate body structure

Related pages on this web site

• Grasshoppers and Crickets - Order Orthoptera

See other words beginning with F