The description of mammals–2 Limbs and locomotion of terrestial mammals

Four separate categories of description relating to limbs and locomotion are recognized. Gross variation in limb structure characterizes descriptions at the ordinal level. Detailed morphology of the external features, and of limb bones, extends diagnosis to the familial and generic levels. The gaits of mammals describe locomotory behaviour. In all of these categories, definitions tend to be imprecise and the terminology to be misapplied. This descriptive terminology is critically reviewed in the light of advancing research and a synthetic framework for ordering future studies is proposed.