How to classify animals has become quite controversial in the scientific
community. Some want to classify by characteristics (traditional), others
include more on bone structure (somewhat traditional) and others suggest DNA
analysis (radical). There's also completely new classification systems
being proposed that have no relationship to what we use now.
In terms of behavior, my gerbs have always acted much more squirrel-like
than rat or mouse. I bet they were originally classified on appearance
only. Seems early Anglo explorers called them "yellow rats".
-----Original Message-----
From: Donna Anastasi [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2000 2:01 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Gerbil terms
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/ *
> ************************************************************************
