I was just looking for the official/scientific terms -- didn't realize that
it was a discussion topic (but I am really enjoying the terms).
I did find a web site that classifies different animals: young, male, female,
group. Can't vouch for the reliability though...
http://users.intertex.net/rzu2u/terms.htm
Gerbil
Pup
Buck
Doe
Horde
Also I found out the gerbils fall under the Suborder is Myomorpha which means
"rat-like"
http://www.ahsc.arizona.edu/uac/notes/biorodent97/
It was interesting that a gerbil is in the same suborder as hamster and rat,
but not prairie dog, guinea pig, or chinchilla:
Order Rodentia
Suborder Sciuromorpha- "squirrel-like"
Family Sciuridae
Cynomys ludovicianus - prairie dog
Marmota monax - woodchuck, groundhog
Suborder Myomorpha- "rat-like"
Family Cricetidae
Cricetulus griseus - Chinese or striped-back hamster
Meriones unguiculatus - Mongolian gerbil or clawed jird
Mesocricetus auratus - Syrian or golden hamster
Sigmodon hispidus - Cotton rat
Family Muridae
Mus musculus- house mouse
Rattus norvegicus - Norway rat
Suborder Hystrichomorpha- "porcupine-like"
Family Cavidae
Cavia porcellus - guinea pig
Family Chincillidae
Chinchilla laniger - long-tailed chinchilla
Finally, I found out that 'the term "rodent" is derived from the latin verb
"rodere" which means "to gnaw"'.
Julian and Jackie wrote:
> g. m. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote
>
> >Gerbils are also called clawed jirds or clawed warriors. Male and female
> >warriors are called Bella Tor and Bella Trix, which is Latin.
>
> Veterans will know we discussed this at great length some time ago.
> Despite discussing various ideas the words Tor and Trix were the only
> ones that there was not a lot of opposition to. Unfortunately the names
> do not appear to be in general use.
>
> They are derived from the Latin for Male Warrior (bellator) and Female
> Warrior (bellatrix). This is because the scientific name for gerbils is
> in part derived from a warrior described by Homer in the Iliad. And of
> course, gerbils can be very courageous fighters.
>
> --
> Julian
>
> ************************************************************************
> * Jackie and Julian *
> * [EMAIL PROTECTED] *
> * National Gerbil Society *
> * http://www.gerbils.co.uk/ *
> ************************************************************************
