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Glite Dictionary
Thomomys bottae

Thomomys bottae

9.9
A small gopher that lives underground in valleys and mountain meadows of the western United States
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Thomomys bottae
  • Unlike other gophers, Thomomys bottae prefers habitats in valleys and mountain meadows.

Examples

  • Researchers studied the burrowing patterns of Thomomys bottae to understand their impact on soil structure.

  • The Thomomys bottae is commonly found in the grasslands of California.

  • The Thomomys bottae is known for its burrowing habits.

  • Have you ever seen a Thomomys bottae in the wild?

  • The Thomomys bottae thrives in the rich soil of valleys, where it creates extensive burrow systems.

  • Ecologists often observe the Thomomys bottae in mountain meadows, where it gathers food for winter.

  • In the western United States, the Thomomys bottae plays a vital role in aerating the soil with its digging.

Synonyms

valley pocket gopher
vsThomomys bottae
  • US
9.9

A small burrowing rodent that lives in western United States valleys and meadows with fur-lined cheek pouches

is the specific species of that rodent found in the same habitats

Surface Forms

Thomomys bottae singular
Thomomys bottaes plural

Morphology

Thomomys + bottae

This is a Latin binomial combining a genus name (Thomomys) with a species epithet (bottae); a learner who knows 'Thomomys' as a group of burrowing rodents can infer the expression denotes a particular species of that genus. However, the specific epithet 'bottae' is an arbitrary/eponymic label with no descriptive meaning, so the full, specific sense is not derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Thomomys bottae is the scientific name for a pocket gopher. The first part, Thomomys, means 'mouse-like' gopher and the second part, bottae, honors a scientist named Botta, so the full name literally points to 'Botta's gopher' and helps you remember which species it is.