Chrysochloridae

/ˌkrɪsoʊˈklɔrɪˌdi/ noun

Definition

The scientific family name for golden moles, small burrowing mammals found in Africa with shimmering yellowish fur.

Etymology

From Greek chrysos (gold) + chloros (green, but also used for the color of living things) + -idae (scientific family suffix). Named for the metallic golden appearance of their fur in certain lights.

Kelly Says

Golden moles are nearly blind with tiny eyes hidden under fur, so they navigate underground entirely by touch and vibrations—they're like nature's living metal detectors, and their fur actually has a structure that makes it shimmer like polished gold!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.