Saltatorial

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

Grasshoppers and crickets have saltatorial hind legs. The legs are much larger than the other two pairs of legs and allow these insects to jump a considerable distance.

A photograph of a bush-cricket illustrating the large back legs.

Related terms

• Cursorial
• Fossorial
• Orthoptera
• Raptorial

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 S