Geomys bursarius
- noun
- Specialized
:
Geomys bursarius
- The Geomys bursarius builds complex tunnel systems in prairie soils.
Examples
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Wildlife researchers track the population of Geomys bursarius to monitor ecosystem health.
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Farmers sometimes consider Geomys bursarius a pest because it feeds on root crops.
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The Geomys bursarius is often found in burrows.
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Did you see a Geomys bursarius in the field?
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Farmers sometimes consider Geomys bursarius a pest because it feeds on root crops.
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Wildlife researchers track the population of Geomys bursarius to monitor ecosystem health.
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The Geomys bursarius builds complex tunnel systems in prairie soils.
Synonyms
A small animal that lives underground in grasslands and carries food in pockets in its cheeks
Surface Forms
Morphology
Geomys + bursarius
This is a Latin binomial (genus + species). A learner who knows 'Geomys' as a genus of burrowing rodents can infer that Geomys bursarius is a specific kind of Geomys (i.e. a type of gopher), but the species epithet 'bursarius' is not a normal English word and does not transparently add the full ecological meaning given in the definition. Because the taxonomic composition signals membership in a genus but does not yield the detailed sense, the item is only partially predictable to learners.
Etymology
Geomys bursarius comes from Latin words: Geomys means 'earth mouse', a mouse that lives in the ground, and bursarius means 'pocket' or 'purse' because it refers to the gopher's cheek pouches. So the name gives a clear image of a burrowing gopher with little pockets for food.
