adjective
- adapted for digging or burrowing underground
Usage: biological/zoological term
Examples
- Moles have fossorial adaptations including powerful front claws.
- The fossorial lifestyle of prairie dogs requires extensive tunnel systems.
- Fossorial animals like badgers spend most of their time underground.
- The wombat’s fossorial nature is evident in its strong digging limbs.
- Many fossorial species have reduced eyesight due to their underground habitat.
- Fossorial mammals often have cylindrical body shapes for efficient burrowing.