saltigrade

American  

[sal-ti-greyd, sawl-] / ˈsæl tɪˌgreɪd, ˈsɔl- /

adjective

1. moving by leaping.

2. belonging or pertaining to the family Salticidae, comprising the jumping spiders.

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saltigrade British  

/ ˈsæltɪˌɡreɪd /

adjective

1. (of animals) adapted for moving in a series of jumps

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Etymology

Origin of saltigrade

First recorded in 1830–40; from Latin saltus “a leap,” a derivative of salt(āre) “to jump” + -i- + -grade; see saltant

Explanation

Saltigrade spiders and other organisms are those that move by leaping or jumping. Jumping spiders, in particular, are themselves sometimes referred to as saltigrades. Saltigrade comes from Latin and is made up of two parts: saltus, meaning "a leap," and gradior, meaning "to walk." The specific scientific family name for jumping spiders is Salticidae. If you see a small spider tracking a fly and suddenly leaping across your desk, you're watching saltigrade movement in action. The term saltigrade contrasts with gressorial, "walking," and cursorial, "running," movements. Besides jumping spiders, other saltigrade creatures are fleas, grasshoppers, and frogs.