Standing up

[Cinderpelt]

Why do some animals stand on two legs and others on four? What is the criteria for an animal to be able to stand on two feet?

[The Skarzs]

Can you give some examples of those walking on four feet? I think the only ones I remember were frogs and other reptiles.

I personally don't like to imagine them being on four feet if they talk and act "human". If they lack intellect, then I find it is better for them to be on four feet.

[Ashleg]

Gloomer and the ermine "dirgecallers" seemed to be on four feet.

[The Skarzs]

True, but they were also much more savage, primitive.

[Ashleg]

Yeah, I wasn't trying to dispute you, I was giving Cinderpelt more examples.

[Cinderpelt]

True, but what is there was a smart and civilized frog? Would he then walk on two feet or is it based on species?

[SoranMBane]

Well, as far as the toads go, I don't really remember it ever being specified whether they primarily stand on their hind legs or all fours (though I would have to reread one of the books where they show up to be sure). There is at least a clue in the fact that they wield tridents; even if they mostly hop around on all fours, they would at least need to be able to stand on their hind legs for short periods of time in order to use their weapons.

Otherwise, yeah, it seems to depend on how sane and intelligent a creature is. The Gloomer and the Dirgecallers seem to have reverted to walking on all fours because they'd utterly lost their minds and senses of self. I'm pretty sure I also recall cases of perfectly intelligent creatures dropping down on all fours temporarily, either to land more softly after a fall or for tracking. So I get the impression that pretty much every creature in the Redwall world could walk solely on all fours if they wanted to, but they choose not to because they're too civilized for that.

[Wylder Treejumper]

There is a bit of early installment weirdness in Redwall, mostly with Constance the badger trundling around on all fours (and pulling the cart via the cartshaft in her mouth), but otherwise it seems only the most savage creatures go about on all fours. Even most (but not all) of the lizards seem to walk upright, as they carry and throw reed lances.

[Nadaz, voice of the host]

On the cover of Mattimeo Slager (chickenhound) is standing on all fours but in the book itself they never mention it as far as I am aware of.

[Jetthebinturong]

On the original UK cover, and most others besides the US version, he's on 2 legs.

[MeadowR]

That Mattimeo cover has always bothered me for that (odd) decision to have him on all fours.

[The Skarzs]

And the weasel on two.

[Nadaz, voice of the host]

The weasel might normally walk on all fours but he seems to be propping himself up on his spear.

[Ashleg]

That cover always annoyed me, too.
I much prefer the purple one. [The version I own.] I unfortunately cannot find a crisper picture of this, but Slagar is upright and Matthias is reaaaaally cool on it. The mice on the bridge are also upright, just slouched.

[The Skarzs]

My version of that got destroyed, unfortunately. I do have the Redwall and Mossflower ones in that cover style, though.