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The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
FOSSORIAL [4 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2005-06-15
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Mammals
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- moles
1, record 1, English, moles
correct, plural
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- Talpidae 2, record 1, English, Talpidae
Latin
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A family of insectivorous mammals, that is divided in three subfamilies: Desmaninae, Talpinae and Uropsilinae. 3, record 1, English, - moles
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Although several groups of mammals have taken to a subterranean existence, the moles are the ones that have become the most highly adapted to the fossorial way of life. 4, record 1, English, - moles
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Moles have thick streamlined bodies: the nose is long and pointed, and the limbs are short. 4, record 1, English, - moles
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Mammifères
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- taupes
1, record 1, French, taupes
correct, feminine noun, plural
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- Talpidae 2, record 1, French, Talpidae
Latin
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Famille de mammifères insectivores qui regroupe les sous-familles Desmaninae, Talpinae et Uropsilinae. 3, record 1, French, - taupes
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Presque aveugle, la taupe, avec son corps en torpille, est parfaitement adaptée à la vie souterraine. 4, record 1, French, - taupes
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 1998-08-18
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Animal Behaviour
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- fossorial
1, record 2, English, fossorial
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- fossorious 1, record 2, English, fossorious
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
adapted to digging. 1, record 2, English, - fossorial
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
a fossorial foot; a fossorial mammal. 1, record 2, English, - fossorial
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
opposed to cursorial. 1, record 2, English, - fossorial
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Comportement animal
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- fouisseur
1, record 2, French, fouisseur
correct, adjective
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
(...) qui est propre à fouir. 1, record 2, French, - fouisseur
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Pattes fouisseuses, pattes de certains animaux (taupes, édentés, etc.) conformées pour fouiller la terre. 1, record 2, French, - fouisseur
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 1997-01-09
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Animal Behaviour
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- burrowing
1, record 3, English, burrowing
correct, adjective
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- fossorial 2, record 3, English, fossorial
correct, adjective
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
burrow [verb]: of an animal: to progress through the earth by means of digging movements. 3, record 3, English, - burrowing
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Castings are indigestible remnants of meals swallowed by burrowing invertebrates. 4, record 3, English, - burrowing
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Burrowing bug. 5, record 3, English, - burrowing
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 3 CONT
Burrowing organism. 6, record 3, English, - burrowing
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Comportement animal
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- fouisseur
1, record 3, French, fouisseur
correct, adjective
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Se dit des mammifères ou des insectes qui creusent le sol avec une grande facilité. 2, record 3, French, - fouisseur
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 2 DEF
Qualifie un organisme marin qui vit et se déplace dans le sédiment soit pour s'y protéger, soit pour y trouver sa nourriture; ex. la langoustine, le lançon, le couteau. 3, record 3, French, - fouisseur
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Par la formation de trous et l'érection de monticules, les organismes fouisseurs semblent avoir une action dans le déplacement des nodules et leur basculement. 3, record 3, French, - fouisseur
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Comportamiento animal
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- excavador
1, record 3, Spanish, excavador
adjective
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 1986-06-11
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Insects, Centipedes, Spiders, and Scorpions
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- velvet ant
1, record 4, English, velvet%20ant
correct
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
any of various solitary fossorial wasps that constitute the family Mutillidae,... parasitic in the nests of bees of other hymenopterous insects... 1, record 4, English, - velvet%20ant
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Insectes, mille-pattes, araignées et scorpions
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- mutille
1, record 4, French, mutille
correct, feminine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Insecte bigarré de teintes vives, avec des bandes soyeuses. (Le genre fait partie des hyménoptères et sert de type à la famille des mutillidés.) 1, record 4, French, - mutille
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
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