Various amphibians, including some species of frogs, are burrowers, as are a number of reptiles, including assorted snakes. Clams, crustaceans, insects, sea urchins, spiders, and worms all exhibit burrowing behavior. Burrowing Animals Burrowing is popular among many types of animals, including invertebrates, which are animals lacking a spinal column. These “granaries” can store up to 120 liters (32 gallons) of food. Kangaroo rats are very small rodents-only weighing about 150 grams (5 ounces)-but they store grain in huge burrows many times their size. Besides protection from predators and climate, some burrows function as food-storage facilities. Maternity dens used by bears are probably the most familiar example of this type of burrow. ![]() ![]() Other times, burrows are dug primarily for pregnant mothers and infant offspring. Beavers, for instance, construct complex lodges (sometimes called dams) that provide shelter for parents and offspring. Sometimes, entire families live in burrows. This similarity suggests burrows were dug by similar dinosaur species on opposite ends of the Earth for millions of years. It is the oldest known dinosaur burrow, and is nearly identical to the first one ever found, in the U.S. In fact, a 110-million-year-old dinosaur burrow was recently discovered on the southeastern coast of what is now Australia. For these reasons, animals have used burrowing behavior for a very long time. Burrows provide shelter from predators and extreme temperatures. Some burrows function as “ larders,” where animals keep food. ![]() Burrows can also be the byproduct of locomotion-moving from one place to another. A burrow is a tunnel or hole that an animal digs for habitation (a place to live) or as a temporary refuge (a place of protection).
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