inquiline

[prettygoodword]

inquiline (IN-kwuh-layn, IN-kwuh-lin) - n., an animal that habitually lives commensally in the nest, burrow, or dwelling place of another species. adj., of or living as an inquiline.


For example, insects that live in gopher burrows feeding off their debris. It's a fine line between a parasite and an inquiline, but in general, the latter do no harm and may even do some small good, while still not quite straying into the range of mutualism. Borrowed around 1630 from Latin inquilīnus, tenant, from in- + colere, to live (yes, there's a bit of a shift in that combining form).

---L.

Comments

[azhdragon.livejournal.com]

or, perhaps, an older teenager or "kidult" that has yet to fly the parental nest. Living at home, but not really being a part of the "family" any more, pursuing own dreams and goals while yet taking advantage of the free or low rent room and board.

And in that regard, yes - a very fine line between parasite and inquiline.

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Heh. Depends on how cranky one is about said kidult.

---L.