valley pocket gopher
- noun
- /ˈvæli ˈpɑkɪt ˈɡoʊfər/
- US
:
gofre de los valles
- The valley pocket gopher is known for its cheek pouches, which it uses to store food.
Examples
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The valley pocket gopher creates extensive tunnel systems beneath meadows in California.
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Many predators, such as hawks and foxes, rely on the valley pocket gopher as a source of food.
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Biologists studied the habits of the valley pocket gopher to understand its impact on local vegetation.
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The valley pocket gopher is a fascinating creature.
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I saw a valley pocket gopher digging in the meadow.
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Researchers observed how the valley pocket gopher builds tunnels in the soft earth.
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A valley pocket gopher can often be found foraging for roots and seeds in grassy areas.
Synonyms
11
6.4
A small animal like a mouse that lives in tunnels and has cheek pouches
A small gopher that lives underground in valleys and mountain meadows of the western United States
A small animal like a gopher that lives underground in North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is fully compositional: 'gopher' names the rodent, 'pocket' describes the cheek‑pouch feature (pocket‑cheeked gopher), and 'valley' specifies its typical habitat, so the overall meaning is a type of gopher found in valleys. This follows ordinary noun‑compounding patterns found cross‑linguistically, making the sense predictable for a learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
The noun valley pocket gopher names a small animal that digs tunnels in valleys and has fur-lined pockets in its cheeks to carry food. So the name links where it lives and the 'cheek pouches' it uses to store food.