English terms for the elements of rodent burrow

[Alexey Solodovnikov]

Dear Taxacomers and Skoliths!

Last week I have posted the message to TAXACOM, asking for some advise
regarding few English terms for the elements of rodent burrow.
Later my message was forwarded to SKOLITHOS. During few days I was receiving
several messages with very helpful suggestions. I am glad to acknowledge all
people from TAXACOM and SKOLITOS, who shared their knowledge and
time to help me (namely, David Stein, Andrew Rindsberg,
Vr. Richard Bejsak-Collorado-Mansfeld, William Godwin, John
Edmondson and Richard Bromley). As a result, I suimmirized all
messages, and I know now well, that the burrow of long-clawed mole-vole
(Prometheomys schaposchnikovi) has:

AS> 1. [gnezdovaya kamera]: The main (largest) chamber of the burrow,
AS> where the nest is located : NESTING CHAMBER.

AS> 2. [kladovaya]: Smaller chambers, which are used by the rodent
AS> for long-term storing of the foraged grass. STORING
AS> CHAMBERS = PANTRIES.

AS> 3. [ubornaya]: Smaller chambers, or rather some tunnels, where
AS> animals accumulate excrements (insted of leaving them
AS> randomly through all burrow): LATRINES.

AS> 4. [vykhodnoe otverstie]: Holes on the soil surface through which the animals
AS> enter and exit their burrow: SURFACE OPENINGS.

Thanks a lot!

Sincerely,
Alexey.

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Alexey Solodovnikov
Laboratory of Insect Taxonomy
Zoological Institute Rus. Acad. Sci.
Universitetskaya nab. 1, St. Petersburg
199034 RUSSIA
phone: +7 812 328 12 12
fax:   +7 812 114 04 44
e-mail: asolodovnikov at mail.ru
http://www.zin.ru/Animalia/Coleoptera/eng/solodovn.htm
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