The quadrupeds include almost all the mammals. (Among the exceptions are whales, bats, and humans.) The Greek equivalent of this Latin word is tetrapod. However, the two are not identical, since the tetrapod classification includes bipeds such as birds, in which two of the limbs are no longer used for walking. Insects all have six legs, of course, and in the sea there are eight-legged octopods (including the octopus). But there are no animals of any kind with an odd number of legs.
Example Sentences
Horses and cows are quadrupeds.
Recent Examples on the WebYet the magazine continues to explore, optimistically, the challenges and discoveries that promise to shape the lives of bipeds, quadrupeds and every other creature on Earth. Ted Scheinman, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Mar. 2020 But some took to occasionally resting or running on all fours for greater stability and over time evolved into quadrupeds. Sarah Lewin Frasier, Scientific American, 1 June 2015 That includes the Ornithischia branch, which produced many famous quadruped dinosaurs, such as Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Ankylosaurus. Jason Bittel, National Geographic, 20 May 2019 That transition from stable quadruped to confident biped took a long time as new members of the human family tree evolved. Jason Daley, Smithsonian, 5 July 2018 Dogs resemble wild quadrupeds — feral hogs, raccoons, coyotes and other mammals — that are regular meals for gators. Shannon Tompkins, Houston Chronicle, 13 June 2018 Boston Dynamics is also working on a quadruped robot called SpotMini, which can recover in unsettling fashion when humans kick or tug on it. Matt Simon, WIRED, 17 May 2018 More majestically, the quadrupeds, inescapably connected to what sustains them, embodied their gratitude. Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, 5 Feb. 2018 These quadrupeds are perfectly adapted to the remote Arctic wasteland, sporting a coat of thick fur that contains an insulating under layer to seal them away from harsh temperatures. Maya Wei-haas, Smithsonian, 2 Aug. 2017 See More
Word History
Etymology
Latin quadruped-, quadrupes, from quadruped-, quadrupes, adjective, having four feet, from quadri- + ped-, pes foot — more at foot