THE FAMILY OF POCKET GOPHERS 



(Geomyida:) 



HE Pocket Gophers are the only rodents to which the term "gopher" can 

 be accurately applied ; although it has been used erroneously for other burrow- 

 ing animals of the Ground Squirrel tribe. The family Gcomyidac, however, 

 are our only true American Gophers, and are numerous enough and pestiferous 

 enough to warrant all the profanity which has been levelled at " Gophers " 

 indiscriminat ely . 



This family includes a group of thick-set rodents which receive their 

 distinctive name, " pocket," from the presence of large, fur-lined cheek 

 pouches opening outside the mouth. These are used as genuine pockets 

 for carrying things of quite as much value to the Gopher as the contents of 

 their pockets are to small boys. The eyes and ears of these rodents are very 



small; the skull is broader than it is deep; the molar teeth have no roots; the fore feet 



are armed with long claws especially adapted for digging. 



POCKET GOPHER 



Geomys bursarius (Shazv) 



Other Names. — Prairie Pocket Gopher, Red Pocket 

 Gopher. 



General Description. — A medium-sized burrowing 

 rodent with small eyes and ears. Head broad and 

 blunt : eyes very small ; ears small ; external cheek 

 pouches fur-lined and opening on sides of face; incisor 

 teeth large and prominent: body rather thick-set; tail 

 short, thick and very scantily haired; legs short: claws 

 long, especially so on the fore feet ; pelage rather short 

 but very soft; general color dull chestnut-brown, under- 

 parts paler. A burrowing animal little seen, but throw- 

 ing out conspicuous mounds of earth. 



Dental Formula. — Incisors, 



; Canmes. — : Pre- 



: o — o 



molars. ^—^ ; Molars, ^_^ =20. 



Pelage. — Adults: Sexes identical. Seasonal varia- 

 tion occurring but not conspicuously noticeable. Upper 

 parts dull chestnut-brown; underparts paler; bases of 

 the hairs dark plumbeous : feet white ; hair on basal 

 portion of tail like back, terminal portion white. 

 YouNc. : Similar to adults but colors weaker. 



Measurements. — Total length, 1 1 inches ; tail verte- 

 brae, 3.2 inches; hind foot, 1.4 inches. 



Range. — Upper Mississippi Valley, south of the 

 Canadian boundary, from southeastern Missouri and 

 southern Illinois eastward to Lake Michigan, westward 

 to the Dakotas and Nebraska, southward to eastern 

 Kansas. 



Food. — Strictly vegetarian ; roots and green vegeta- 

 tion. 



Remarks. — The Pocket Gophers are a very large 

 group, there being three genera in the United States 

 with some 78 species and subspecies. All but one of 

 these belong to two groups which might be called 



respectively the Eastern and the Western Pocket 

 Gopher groups. The best distinguishing character is 

 the possession of grooved incisors by the members of 

 the Eastern Pocket Gopher group, and ungrooved by 

 the Western. .A wide range of variation is shown in 

 size and color, as these animals reflect quite closely the 

 eiTects of their habitat and environrrient. 



Related Species 



Pocket Gopher. — Ccomys bursarius (Shaw). 

 Typical animal of the above description. Upper 

 Mississippi Valley from Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, the 

 Dakotas and Nebraska east to Lake Michigan. 



Short-headed Pocket Gopher. — Geomys brcviceps 

 brcviccfs Baird. Smaller and darker. Lowlands of 

 Mississippi Valley and Gulf Coast of southern 

 .\rkansas. Louisiana and Texas, northward nearly to 

 Kansas, and west to 98th meridan. 



Texas Pocket Gopher. — Geomys tcxcnsis Mer- 

 riam. Small and white-bellied. Texas, central and 

 southern parts. 



Georgia Pocket Gopher. — Ccoxiys tu:a tuca (Ord). 

 Tail longer and more naked ; color above cinnamon 

 brown. Pine barrens of Georgia. 



Chestnut-faced Pocket Gopher. — Cratofieomys 

 castanofs castaiwf>s (Baird). Size medium; upper 

 incisor with a single groove ; yellowish-brown mixed 

 with black above, beneath buflfy. Great Plains from 

 Colorado southward through eastern New Mexico and 

 western Texas. 



Columbia Pocket Gopher. — Thomomys bulbivorus 

 (Richardson). Largest of the Pocket Gophers in the 

 United States ; total length, 14 inches ; color dark ; slaty- 

 black. Lower Columbia River to coast of California. 



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