pentapedaladj.
/ˌpɛntəˈpiːdl/, /ˌpɛntəˈpɛdl/, /ˌpɛnˈtapᵻdl/, U.S. /ˌpɛn(t)əˈpid(ə)l/, /ˌpɛn(t)əˈpɛd(ə)l/, /pɛnˈtæpəd(ə)l/ Zoology.
Five-legged; spec. designating a method of locomotion used by kangaroos and wallabies at slow speeds, in which the hind legs alternate with the fore legs and tail in supporting the body.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Implacenta > subclass Marsupialia (marsupials) > [adjective] > method of locomotion of kangaroo
pentapedal1973
1973 T. J. Dawson & C. R. Taylor in Nature 30 Nov. 313/2 At low speeds the kangaroo does not hop but moves by what can perhaps best be described as a ‘pentapedal type’ of locomotion, since the animal uses its heavy tail as a fifth leg.
1980 Endeavour 4 148/2 Once the animal was hopping, (rather than ‘creeping’ along the ground using all four limbs and the tail—called pentapedal gait), there was an actual decrease in oxygen consumption with further increases in hopping speed.
2003 Behavioural Processes 61 87 Behaviours were scored as either vigilance (bipedal stand), relaxed (forage, sit with tail between legs, groom) or locomotion (hop, pentapedal walk).
Derivatives
pentaˈpedally adv. rare
ΚΠ
1973 T. J. Dawson & C. R. Taylor in Nature 30 Nov. 313/2 The increase in speed while moving pentapedally was achieved primarily by increasing stride frequency.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1973