scansorial

[ skan-sawr-ee-uhl, -sohr- ]

adjective

, Zoology.

1. capable of or adapted for climbing, as the feet of certain birds, lizards, etc.
2. habitually climbing, as a woodpecker.

scansorial

/ skænˈsɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. zoology specialized for, characterized by, or relating to climbing

   a scansorial bird

Word History and Origins

Origin of scansorial¹

1800–10; < Latin scānsōri ( us ) for climbing ( scand ( ere ) to climb ( scan ) + -tōrius -tory ¹, with dt > s ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of scansorial¹

C19: from Latin scānsōrius, from scandere to climb

Example Sentences

The South American tropics are dominated by the mostly terrestrial teiioids and mostly scansorial and arboreal iguanians.

From Scientific American

Feet scansorial, versatile; the outer toe long, and connected by the first joints to the inner toe.

From Project Gutenberg

As implied above the brush mouse is adapted for a scansorial mode of life; but other mice and rats inhabit the rocky crevices of low bluffs.

From Project Gutenberg

They belong to the scansorial order of birds; that is, they have two toes forward and two backward.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the smaller birds in these forests, the trogons—a genus of scansorial birds—are the most beautiful, surpassing their relatives found in other parts of the world.

From Project Gutenberg