striped gopher: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
RareInformal, Regional (North American), Technical (Zoology)
Quick answer
What does “striped gopher” mean?
A common name for the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), a small, burrowing rodent native to central North America, characterized by thirteen alternating dark and light stripes running along its back.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), a small, burrowing rodent native to central North America, characterized by thirteen alternating dark and light stripes running along its back.
The term can be used informally in North America to refer to similar striped ground squirrels, though the thirteen-lined species is the primary referent. In non-technical contexts, it may be confused with chipmunks or other small, striped mammals.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in North America, particularly in the central plains and prairie regions of the United States and Canada. It is largely unknown in British English, where one would use the specific zoological name or simply 'striped ground squirrel'.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes the prairie ecosystem, rural life, and sometimes considered a minor agricultural pest. In British English, it has no established connotations due to lack of usage.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Its use is concentrated in regional wildlife guides, historical texts about the American Midwest, and informal speech in its native range.
Grammar
How to Use “striped gopher” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] striped gopher [VERB]...We saw a striped gopher [PREP] the field.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “striped gopher” in a Sentence
adjective
American English
- We followed the striped-gopher trail across the meadow.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in zoology, ecology, and natural history texts describing North American fauna.
Everyday
Used informally by people in the central US and Canada who encounter the animal.
Technical
A less precise synonym for *Ictidomys tridecemlineatus*; technical writing prefers the scientific name.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “striped gopher”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “striped gopher”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “striped gopher”
- Confusing it with a chipmunk (which has facial stripes and is more associated with woodlands) or a true pocket gopher (which lacks stripes).
- Using 'striped gopher' in formal zoological writing.
- Pronouncing 'striped' as /strɪpt/ instead of /straɪpt/ in the American context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While both are small striped rodents, chipmunks have facial stripes, live in more wooded areas, and are in a different genus. The striped gopher is a ground squirrel of open grasslands.
'Gopher' is a regional folk name in North America often applied to various small, burrowing rodents. The accurate name is 'thirteen-lined ground squirrel'.
They are native to the central grasslands of North America, from central Canada down through the central United States.
They are generally not harmful but can be considered minor agricultural pests in some areas due to their burrowing and occasional consumption of crops.
A common name for the thirteen-lined ground squirrel (Ictidomys tridecemlineatus), a small, burrowing rodent native to central North America, characterized by thirteen alternating dark and light stripes running along its back.
Striped gopher is usually informal, regional (north american), technical (zoology) in register.
Striped gopher: in British English it is pronounced /ˌstrʌɪpt ˈɡəʊfə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌstraɪpt ˈɡoʊfɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GOLFER wearing STRIPED trousers, but he's tiny and digging holes in the ground instead of playing golf – a striped gopher.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANIMAL IS A LANDSCAPE FEATURE (e.g., 'The prairie was dotted with striped gopher mounds').
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'striped gopher' most accurately classified as?