arboreal locomotion

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arboreal locomotion

animal behavior

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June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

Arboreal locomotion refers to how animals move through trees. This behavior is common among primates, birds, and mammals, with adaptations varying by species.

Key types of arboreal locomotion include:
* Brachiation: Swinging from branch to branch using only the arms, seen in gibbons and spider monkeys.1
* Climbing: Utilizing strong feet, claws, or prehensile digits to ascend and descend. Birds like woodpeckers climb vertically, while mammals such as squirrels use alternate leg movements.2
* Quadrupedalism: Moving on all fours, with variations in gait like walking or leaping.3
* Vertical clinging and leaping: Primarily using hind limbs to cling to vertical surfaces and leap between trees.3

These diverse methods allow animals to navigate their forest habitats for food, shelter, and protection from predators.3

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locomotion
Arboreal and aerial locomotion
The adaptation for climbing is unique for each group of arboreal animals. All climbers must have strong grasping abilities, and they must keep their centre of gravity as close as possible to the object being climbed. Because arthropods are generally…
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The adaptation for climbing is unique for each group of arboreal animals. All climbers must have strong grasping abilities, and they must keep their centre of gravity as close as possible to the object being climbed. Because arthropods are generally…
Read More

South America
The Amazonian and Guianan forests
…most animals responded by becoming arboreal. Tree frogs can move across the surface of the leaves thanks to adhesive pads on their feet; lizards have very elongated fingers; monkeys, sarigues (a close relative of the opossum), and kinkajous (a nocturnal, carnivorous mammal) have prehensile tails. Birds are numerous and, because…
Read More
…most animals responded by becoming arboreal. Tree frogs can move across the surface of the leaves thanks to adhesive pads on their feet; lizards have very elongated fingers; monkeys, sarigues (a close relative of the opossum), and kinkajous (a nocturnal, carnivorous mammal) have prehensile tails. Birds are numerous and, because…
Read More

temperate forest
Fauna
…homes and nest sites for arboreal mammals and birds in most regions of temperate forest but with pronounced variations. For example, apart from bats no native mammals are found in the New Zealand forests. In Australia the arboreal mammals are all marsupials or bats, including gliders such as the greater…
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…homes and nest sites for arboreal mammals and birds in most regions of temperate forest but with pronounced variations. For example, apart from bats no native mammals are found in the New Zealand forests. In Australia the arboreal mammals are all marsupials or bats, including gliders such as the greater…
Read More