Thomomys talpoides
- noun
- Specialized
:
gopher de bolsillo del norte
- Unlike other gophers, Thomomys talpoides has fur that ranges from greyish to brown.
Examples
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The Thomomys talpoides often creates extensive burrow systems in grasslands.
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Farmers in the region sometimes regard Thomomys talpoides as a pest due to its digging activities.
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The Thomomys talpoides is commonly found in grasslands.
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Did you see a Thomomys talpoides in the field?
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Farmers in the region sometimes regard Thomomys talpoides as a pest due to its digging activities.
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The Thomomys talpoides often creates extensive burrow systems in grasslands.
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Unlike other gophers, Thomomys talpoides has fur that ranges from greyish to brown.
Synonyms
A small burrowing animal like a mouse that has fur-lined cheek pouches and makes dirt mounds
Surface Forms
Morphology
Thomomys + talpoides
This is a Latin binomial (taxonomic) name functioning as a conventional label rather than a compositional English phrase; knowing 'Thomomys' (a genus of burrowing rodents) and an unfamiliar epithet 'talpoides' would not let a B1 learner infer the specific species description. Scientific names are language-neutral labels and do not follow everyday compositional meaning patterns, so the overall sense is not derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Thomomys talpoides is a scientific name made from a scientist's name and animal word parts: Thomomys was named for the researcher Thomas and contains -mys meaning 'mouse', while talpoides means 'like a mole'. So the name gives the picture of a 'Thomas's mouse that digs like a mole', which fits this burrowing gopher.
