What purpose do the shallower tunnels in a Zokor burrow system typically serve?
Answer
They function as foraging routes leading toward the surface
The extensive tunnel networks constructed by zokors are highly functional, featuring different levels of depth tailored to specific activities. The deeper, more permanent chambers are reserved for essential functions like nesting, resting, and secure storage. In contrast, the shallower tunnels are strategically created to serve as main transit lines and foraging routes. These closer-to-the-surface pathways allow the zokor to efficiently access local root systems and vegetation stems without having to construct entirely new pathways or venture far from the safety of their established subterranean matrix.

Related Questions
To which order do Zokors, members of Myospalacinae, belong?How do Zokors utilize their protruding incisors while excavating soil?What adaptation prevents soil from entering the Zokor's auditory system?What primary food category forms the basis of the Zokor's herbivorous diet?Outside of mating or raising young, what is the typical social structure of Zokors?What term describes the helpless, blind, and naked state of newborn Zokors?What purpose do the shallower tunnels in a Zokor burrow system typically serve?In which specific Asian region is the Chinese zokor, genus Eospalax, found?The physical similarity between Zokors and true moles shows which evolutionary principle?How is the tail structure of a typical Zokor generally described?