| Pocket gophers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Botta's pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Superfamily: | Geomyoidea |
| Family: | Geomyidae Bonaparte, 1845 |
| Type genus | |
| Geomys Rafinesque, 1817 | |
| Genera | |
Cratogeomys | |
| Diversity | |
| Around 41 species in 7 genera | |
Pocket gophers, commonly referred to simply asgophers, areburrowingrodents of the familyGeomyidae.[2] The roughly 41 species[3] are allendemic to North and Central America.[4] They are commonly known for their extensive tunneling activities and their ability to damage farms and gardens.
The name "pocket gopher" on its own may refer to any of a number ofgenera within thefamily Geomyidae. These are the "true" gophers, but severalground squirrels in the distantly related familySciuridae are often called "gophers", as well. The origin of the word "gopher" is uncertain; the Frenchgaufre, meaning "waffle", has been suggested, on account of the gopher tunnels resembling thehoneycomb-like pattern of holes in a waffle.[5] Some sources suggest aMuskogean origin of the name.[6]
Pocket gophers weigh around 200 g (1⁄2 lb), and are about 15–20 cm (6–8 in) in body length, with a tail 2.5–5 cm (1–2 in) long. A few species reach weights approaching 1 kg (2.2 lb). Within any particular gopher species, the males are larger than the females, and can be nearly double their weight.[7]
Average lifespans are one to three years.[8] The maximum lifespan for the pocket gopher is about five years.[9] Some gophers, such as those in thegenusGeomys, have lifespans that have been documented as up to seven years in the wild.[8]
Most gophers have brown fur that often closely matches the color of thesoil in which they live. Their most characteristic features are their largecheek pouches, from which the word "pocket" in their name derives. These pouches are fur-lined, can be turned inside out, and extend from the side of the mouth well back onto the shoulders. Gophers have small eyes and a short, hairy tail, which they use to feel around tunnels when they walk backwards.
Pocket gophers have often been found to carry externalparasites including, most commonly, lice, but also ticks, fleas, and mites.[8] Common predators of the gopher includeweasels,snakes, andhawks.[10]
All pocket gophers create a network oftunnel systems that provide protection and a means of collecting food. They arelarder hoarders, and their cheek pouches are used for transporting food back to their burrows. Gophers can collect large hoards. Unlikeground squirrels, gophers do not live in large communities and seldom find themselves above ground. Tunnel entrances can be identified by small piles of loose soil covering the opening.[11] Burrows are in many areas where the soil is softer and easily tunneled. Gophers often visit vegetable gardens, lawns, or farms, as they like moist soil (seeSoil biomantle). This has led to their frequent treatment aspests.
Gophers eat plant roots, shrubs, and other vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, radishes, and any other vegetables with juice.[12] Some species are considered agricultural pests. The resulting destruction of plant life then leaves the area a stretch ofdenuded soil. At the same time, the soil disturbance created by turning it over can lead to the early establishment ofecological succession incommunities ofr-selected and otherruderal plant species. The stashing and subsequent decomposition of plant material in the gophers' larder can produce deep fertilization of the soil.
Pocket gophers aresolitary outside of thebreeding season, aggressively maintainingterritories 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. Although they attempt to flee when threatened, they may attack other animals, includingcats and humans, and can inflict serious bites with their long, sharp teeth.
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 areweaned when around 40 days old.[13]
Geomys andThomomys species are classed as "prohibited new organisms" under New Zealand'sHazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996, preventing them from being imported into the country.[14]
Much debate exists amongtaxonomists about which races of pocket gophers should be recognized as full species, and the following list cannot be regarded as definitive.
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Some sources also list a genusHypogeomys, with one species, but this genus name is normally used for theMalagasy giant rat, which belongs to the familyNesomyidae.
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There are 35 species of gophers living in both North and Central America.
The 13 liner is very familiar to Minnesotans because this little animal is the mascot for the University of Minnesota's "Golden Gophers!"
