Idaho pocket gopher

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Idaho pocket gopher
Idaho gopher distribution.png
Range of the Idaho pocket gopher in the United States
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Geomyidae
Genus: Thomomys
Species:
T. idahoensis
Binomial name
Thomomys idahoensis
Merriam, 1901

The Idaho pocket gopher (Thomomys idahoensis) is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. Many aspects of its behavior and biology are not well understood. It is rather small, with a lightly built skull. Its fur color varies through the body and between individuals. Found in the western United States, it inhabits savannas, shrubland, and grasslands. Individuals live alone in burrows, staying active year-round. The species is rated least-concern by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Taxonomy

Thomomys idahoensis was first described by Clinton Hart Merriam in 1901. The type locality was given as Birch Creek, Idaho. The type specimen was a male, collected in 1890.[2] It has no recent synonyms, although its subspecies were once considered races of Thomomys talpoides.[3] It belongs to the genus Thomomys, which is distributed throughout western North America. This genus is part of the family Geomyidae.[4]

Subspecies

Three subspecies are recognized:

  • T. i. idahoensis (Merriam, 1901) — high variance in size and coloration in different populations within the subspecies, found in eastern Idaho and nearby parts of Montana. The largest are found in the Snake River Plain.[5][3]
  • T. i. pygmaeus (Merriam, 1901) — small and dark brown, found in southwestern Wyoming, southwestern Idaho, and northern Utah.[5][3] It is the only subspecies found in Utah.[6]
  • T. i. confinus (Davis, 1937) — found in western Montana.[3][7]

Description

The size, weight, and hindfoot length of the Idaho pocket gopher are variable, although typically no more than 150 millimetres (5.9 in), 90 grams (3.2 oz), and 26 millimetres (1.0 in) for each, respectively, considered to be relatively small. The color of the back ranges from yellowish brown with dark brown tipped hair to grayish brown or fully dark brown, fairly uniform overall. Most are dark gray around the nose. The ventral area is light gray and usually mixed with yellow and yellow-brown. The feet are whitish in appearance, with tail color varying between specimens.[5] It is paler in winter than summer.[8]

The gopher's skull is small and lightly built, with incisors that are slender and not procumbent. Its baculum is rather long, from 17.8 to 23.4 millimetres (0.70 to 0.92 in). It has either 56 or 58 chromosomes (the difference is due to Robertsonian translocation). The bullae are large.[5] The ears are small.[8]

Distribution and habitat

T. idahoensis is found in the western United States, from central Idaho to the southern and western parts of Montana. A separate population exists in southwestern Wyoming, southeastern Idaho, and northeastern Utah.[1][3] It resides in savanna, shrubland, and grassland habitats.[1]

Behavior and ecology

Individuals live in burrows, each gopher creating and living in its own. They remain active for the entire year, and store excavated soil in their burrows, which stays after the snow has melted, indicating activity in the winter.[3] It is sympatric in certain areas with Thomomys talpoides, which it does not interbreed with. The former species prefers shallower, rockier soils, while the second prefers deeper soil with fewer rocks.[3][5]

Diet

It is not known what the Idaho pocket gopher eats, however related species consume parts of plants from plants below and above ground level, mainly forbs and grasses.[3]

Reproduction and life cycle

Little is known about the life history of T. idahoensis, with no accessible data on breeding season, litter size, and more. It most likely breeds in spring after the snow has melted.[3] It is likely similar to T. talpoides in regards to breeding behavior, which gestates for 19 to 20 days and bears between four and seven offspring.[1] Its longevity is also unknown, although pocket gophers usually live under two years.[3]

Conservation

There is no known existence of this species in protective areas or captivity. It is protected by the US state of Montana. The IUCN has evaluated it as least-concern, as no threats are known.[1] It is listed in the Utah Wildlife Action Plan as a species greatly needing conservation.[6]

Sources

  1. ^ a b c d e Linzey, A.V.; NatureServe (2017). "Thomomys idahoensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017: e.T21809A22215570. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T21809A22215570.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ^ Merriam, Clinton H. (1901). "Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington". 14. Biological Society of Washington: 114. Retrieved 2 November 2022. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Wilson, Don E.; Ruff, Sue (eds.). The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals. Smithsonian Institution. pp. 470–471.
  4. ^ Bailey, Vernon (1915). Revision of the Pocket Gophers of the Genus Thomomys. U.S. Government Printing Office.
  5. ^ a b c d e Thaeler, Charles S. (1972). "Taxonomic Status of the Pocket Gophers, Thomomys idahoensis and Thomomys pygmaeus (Rodentia, Geomyidae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 53 (3): 417–428. doi:10.2307/1379034. ISSN 0022-2372. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b Oliver, George V.; Pope, Theresa L.; Hersey, Kimberly Asmus. "Pocket gophers of conservational concern in Utah" (PDF). Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Thomomys idahoensis". ITIS. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b Anthony, H. E. (1928). Field book of North American mammals; descriptions of every mammal known north of the Rio Grande, together with brief accounts of habits, geographical ranges, etc. G. P. Putnam's Sons. pp. 281–282. Retrieved 2 November 2022.

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