Inquiline

Inquiline

In zoology, an inquiline (from Latin "inquilinus", "lodger" or "tenant") is an animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of an animal of another species. For example, some organisms such as insects may live in the homes of gophers and feed on debris, fungi, roots, etc. The most widely distributed types of inquiline are those found in association with the nests of social insects, especially ants and termites — a single colony may support dozens of different inquiline species. The distinctions between parasites, social parasites, and inquilines are subtle, and many species may fulfill the criteria for more than one of these, as inquilines do exhibit many of the same characteristics of parasites. However, parasites are specifically "not" inquilines, because by definition they have a deleterious effect on the host species, while inquilines do not.


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  • Inquiline — In qui*line, n. [L. inquilinus a tenant, lodger.] (Zo[ o]l.) A gallfly which deposits its eggs in galls formed by other insects. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • inquiline — [in′kwə līn΄, in′kwəlin] n. [L inquilinus, inhabitant < in , in + stem of colere, to till, dwell: see CULT] an animal, usually an insect, that lives in the nest or abode of another, with or without harm to the host: cf. COMMENSAL inquilinism… …   English World dictionary

  • inquiline — inquilinity /in kweuh lin i tee/, n. inquilinous /in kweuh luy neuhs/, adj. /in kweuh luyn , lin/, n. 1. Zool. an animal living in the nest, burrow, or body of another animal. adj. 2. of the nature of an inquiline. [1635 45; < L inquilinus tenant …   Universalium

  • inquiline — ● inquilin, inquiline adjectif (latin inquilinus, locataire) Se dit d une espèce qui vit fixée sur ou dans une autre espèce, qui ne lui sert que de support ou d abri …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • inquiline — /ˈɪnkwəlaɪn/ (say inkwuhluyn) noun 1. Zoology an animal that lives in an abode properly belonging to another; a guest. –adjective 2. of the nature of an inquiline. {Latin inquilīnus} –inquilinity /ɪnkwəˈlɪnəti/ (say inkwuh linuhtee), noun… …  

  • inquiline — noun Etymology: Latin inquilinus tenant, lodger, from in + colere to cultivate, dwell more at wheel Date: 1879 an animal that lives habitually in the nest or abode of some other species …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • inquiline — lodger; an animal that lives habitually in the cavity or abode of some other species, causing no harm, e.g. Nomeus in the Portuguese man of war, Physalia; Fierasfer in the pearl oyster, Meleagrina; Paraclinus marmoratus in finger sponges;… …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • inquiline — n. [L. inquilinus, tenant] 1. A commensal organism that lives habitually on or within the body of another, or in its nest or abode without benefit or damage to either; a guest; see inquilinism. 2. An animal that lives in the home of another… …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • inquiline — noun an animal that lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of an animal of another species …   Wiktionary

  • inquiline — An animal that lives habitually in the abode of some other species (an oyster crab within the shell of an oyster) causing little or no inconvenience to the host. SEE ALSO: commensal. [L. inquilinus, an inhabitant of a place that is not his own,… …   Medical dictionary

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