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Geomyidae

(Family)

Overview

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The pocket gophers are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. These are the "true" gophers, though several ground squirrels of the family Sciuridae are often called gophers as well. The name "pocket gopher" on its own may be used to refer to any of a number of subspecies of the family.

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Pocket gophers are widely distributed in North America, extending into Central America.

Appearance

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Gophers are heavily built, and most are 12 to 30 cm (4.7 to 12 in) long, weighing a few hundred grams. A few species reach weights approaching 1 kg (2.2 lb). Within any species, the males are larger than the females and can be nearly double their weight.[1] Most gophers have brown fur that often closely matches the color of the soil in which they live. Their most characte ristic features are their large cheek pouches, from which the word "pocket" in their name derives. These pouches are fur-lined, and can be turned inside out. They extend from the side of the mouth well back onto the shoulders. They have small eyes and a short, hairy tail, which they use to feel around tunnels when they walk backwards.

Behavior

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All pocket gophers are burrowers. They are larder hoarders, and their cheek pouches are used for transporting food back to their burrows. Gophers can collect large hoards. Their presence is unambiguously announced by the appearance of mounds of fresh dirt about 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter. These mounds will often appear in vegetable gardens, lawns, or farms, as gophers like moist soil (see Soil biomantle). They also enjoy feeding on vegetables. For this reason, some species are considered agricultural pests. They may also damage trees in forests. Although they will attempt to flee w hen threatened, they may attack other animals, including cats and humans, and can inflict serious bites with their long, sharp teeth.

Pocket gophers are solitary outside of the breeding season, aggressively maintaining territories that vary in size depending on the resources available. Males and females may share some burrows and nesting chambers if their territories border each other, but in general, each pocket gopher inhabits its own individual tunnel system.

Depending on the species and local conditions, pocket gophers may have a specific annual breeding season, or may breed repeatedly through the year. Each litter typically consists of two to five young, although this may be much higher in some species. The young are born blind and helpless, and are weaned at around forty days.[2]

Classification

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There has been much debate among taxonomists about which races of pocket gopher should be recognised as full species, and the following list cannot be regarded as definitive.

Some sources also list a genus Hypogeomys, with one species, but this genus name is normally used for the Malagasy Giant Rat, which belongs to the family Nesomyidae.

Control

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Geomys spp and Thomomys spp are classed as "prohibited new organisms" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 preventing it from being imported into the country.[3]

ur-lined, and can be turned inside out. They extend from the side of the mouth well back onto th e shoulders. They have small eyes and a short, hairy tail, which they use to feel around tunnels when they walk backwards.

Behavior

[ Back to top ]

All pocket gophers are burrowers. They are larder hoarders, and their cheek pouches are used for transporting food back to their burrows. Gophers can collect large hoards. Their presence is unambiguously announced by the appearance of mounds of fresh dirt about 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter. These mounds will often appear in vegetable gardens, lawns, or farms, as gophers like moist soil (see Soil biomantle). They also enjoy feeding on vegetables. For this reason, some species are considered agricultural pests. They may also damage trees in forests. Although they will attempt to flee when threatened, they may attack other animals, including cats and humans, and can inflict serious bites with their long, sharp teeth.

Pocket gophers are solitary outside of the breeding season, aggressively maintaining territories that vary in size depending on the resources available. Males and females may share some burrows and nesting chambers if their territories border each other, but in general, each pocket gopher inhabits its own individual tunnel system.

Depending on the species and local conditions, pocket gophers may have a specific annual breeding season, or may breed repeatedly through the year. Each litter typically consists of two to five young, although this may be much higher in some species. The young are born blind and helpless, and are weaned at around forty days.[2]

Classification

[ Back to top ]

There has been much debate among taxonomists about which races of pocket gopher should be recognised as full species, and the following list cannot be regarded as defin itive.

Some sources also list a genus Hypogeomys, with one species, but this genus name is normally used for the Malagasy Giant Rat, which belongs to the family Nesomyidae.

Control

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Geomys spp and Thomomys spp are classed as "prohibited new organisms" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 preventing it from being imported into the country.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Macdonald (Ed), Professor David W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford Univer sity Press. ISBN 0-19-920608-2. 
  2. ^ Patton, James (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 628?631. ISBN 0-87196-871-1. 
  3. ^ Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 2003 - Schedule 2 Prohibited new organisms, New Zealand Government, http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0030/latest/DLM386556.html#DLM386556, retrieved 26 January 2012 

External links

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Taxonomy

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The Family Geomyidae is a member of the Superfamily Geomyoidea. Here is the complete "parentage" of Geomyidae:

The Family Geomyidae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

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Balantiomys

[more]

Chaetodipus

Chaetodipus is a genus of pocket mouse containing 19 species endemic to the United States and Mexico. Like other members of their family such as pocket mice in the genus Perognathus, they are more closely related to pocket gophers than to true mice. [more]

Cheatodipus

[more]

Cratogeomys

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[1] [more]

Cupidinimus

[more]

Dikkomys

Dipodomys

Kangaroo rats, genus Dipodomys, are small rodents native to North America. The common name derives from their bipedal form: as they hop in a manner similar to the much larger kangaroo, although they are not related. It has been noted that they are not properly characterized as "rats" at all. [more]

Diprionomys

[more]

Entoptychus

Geomys

The Geomys contains nine species of pocket gophers often collectively referred to as the eastern pocket gophers. Like all pocket gophers, members of this genus are fossorial herbivores. [more]

Grangerimus

Gregorymys

[more]

Griphomys

Harrymys

Heliscomys

[more]

Heterogeomys

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[2] [more]

Heteromys

Heteromys is a genus of in the Heteromyidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Lignimus

Liomys

Liomys is a genus of in the Heteromyidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Macrogeomys

A Genus in the Kingdom Animalia.[3] [more]

Microdipodops

A kangaroo mouse is either one of the two species of jumping mouse (genus Microdipodops) native to the deserts of the Southwestern United States, predominantly found in the state of Nevada. Although native to the deserts in the southwest they have been plentiful in Missouri and Pennsylvania. The name "kangaroo mouse" refers to the species' extraordinary jumping ability, as well as its habit of bipedal locomotion. The two species are: [more]

Mioheteromys

Mojavemys

Mookomys

Nerterogeomys

Oregonomys

Orthogeomys

Orthogeomys is a genus of in the Geomyidae family, found in Mexico, Central America and Colombia. It contains the following species: [more]

Pappogeomys

Pappogeomys is a genus of in the Geomyidae family. It contains the following species: [more]

Parapliosaccomys

Peridiomys

Perognathoides

[more]

Perognathus

Perognathus is a genus of pocket mouse. Like other members of their family they are more closely related to pocket gophers than to true mice. [more]

Phelosaccomys

Pleurolicus

[more]

Pliogeomys

Pliosaccomys

[more]

Prodipodomys

Progeomys

Proheteromys

Reynoldsomys

Schizodontomys

Stratimus

Tenudomys

[more]

Thomomys

The smooth-toothed pocket gophers, genus Thomomys, are so called because they are among the only pocket gophers without grooves on their incisors. They are also called the Western pocket gophers because they are distributed in western North America. They are considered distinct enough from other pocket gophers to be recognized as a separate subfamily or tribe. [more]

Ziamys

Zygogeomys

The Michoacan Pocket Gopher (Zygogeomys trichopus) is a species of in the Geomyidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Zygogeomys. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is temperate forests. [more]

More info about the Genus Zygogeomys may be found here.

References

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  1. ^ Macdonald (Ed), Professor David W. (2006). The Encyclopedia of Mammals. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-920608-2. 
  2. ^ Patton, James (1984). Macdonald, D.. ed. The Encyclopedia of Mammals. New York: Facts on File. pp. 628?631. ISBN 0-87196-871-1. 
  3. ^ Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 2003 - Schedule 2 Prohibited new organisms, New Zealand Government, http://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1996/0030/latest/DLM386556.html#DLM386556, retrieved 26 January 2012 

Footnotes

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  1. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=112603
  2. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=112852
  3. http://www.ubio.org/browser/details.php?namebankID=112998

Sources

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Last Revised: August 24, 2012
2012/08/24 13:32:26