Definition of Fossorial

1. Adjective. (of limbs and feet) adapted for digging.

Antonyms: Cursorial

Definition of Fossorial

1. a. Fitted for digging, adapted for burrowing or digging; as, a fossorial foot; a fossorial animal.

Definition of Fossorial

1. Adjective. Of, pertaining to, or adapted for digging or burrowing. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Fossorial

1. [adj]

Lexicographical Neighbors of Fossorial

fossilists
fossility
fossilizable
fossilization
fossilizations
fossilize
fossilized
fossilizes
fossilizing
fossilogy
fossilology
fossils
fossor
fossores
fossoria
fossorial (current term)
fossorial foot
fossorial mammal
fossorious
fossors
fossula
fossula fenestrae cochleae
fossula fenestrae vestibuli
fossula petrosa
fossula rotunda
fossulae
fossulae tonsillares
fossulate
fossulæ
fossy

Literary usage of Fossorial

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. The Cambridge Natural History by Arthur Everett Shipley, Sidney Frederic Harmer (1899)
"... fold along the middle ; hairs of body not plumose. Only two forms (male and female) of each species. fossorial Hymenoptera are distinguished from other ..."

2. Catalogueby Colorado State Library, Washburn Observatory, Manton Free Library, Exeter, R.I. Manton Free Library, Woodman Astronomical Library, Exeter (R.I.) by Colorado State Library, Washburn Observatory, Manton Free Library, Exeter, R.I. Manton Free Library, Woodman Astronomical Library, Exeter (R.I.) (1884)
"... fossorial Crickets. (In Peabody Acad. of Science. Sculpteur, Le. Gasparin, Comtesse de. (In her Mem. v. i) 1869 С 1523 SCULPTORS. ..."

3. Organic Evolution by Richard Swann Lull (1917)
"CHAPTER XIX CURSORIAL AND fossorial ADAPTATION CURSORIAL ADAPTATION We have already discussed various means whereby creatures compete with each other for ..."

4. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington by Entomological Society of Washington (1896)
"Mr. Ashmead replied that many fossorial insects do not have fossorial legs. ... The spines on the tarsi are obviously for fossorial purposes. ..."

5. The American Naturalist by American Society of Naturalists, Essex Institute (1903)
"Such forms are completely fossorial. On the other hand the procuring of food above ground and the use of the burrow merely as a safe place in which to live ..."

6. The Nature of Man: Studies in Optimistic Philosophy by ll'ia [ll'ich] Mechnikov, Elie Metchnikoff, Peter Chalmers Mitchell (1905)
"... of vanilla—The part played by insects in the fertilisation of orchids—Mechanism by which insects carry the pollen of orchids—Habits of fossorial ..."

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