Geomys jugossicularis, Hooper, 1940
publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.6603807 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6604053 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/0131878A-0724-FF8A-FA97-F2F3690341B3 |
treatment provided by |
Carolina |
scientific name |
Geomys jugossicularis |
status |
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Hall's Pocket Gopher
Geomys jugossicularis View in CoL
French: Gaufre de Hall / German: Hall-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Hall
Other common names: Colorado Pocket Gopher
Taxonomy. Geomys jugossicularis Hooper,: 1940 View in CoL ,
“Lamar, Prowers Co., Colorado, USA.
Formerly considered a subspecies of G. bursarius or G. lutescens . C. jugossicularis was elevated to species status by P. D. Sudman and colleagues in 2006. Molecular studies suggest that it is sister to G. lutescens . Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
G.j.jugossicularisHooper,1940—SEColoradointoSWKansas,USA.
G. j. halli Sudman, Choate & Zimmerman, 1987 — E Colorado and NW Kansas into SW Nebraska, USA. View Figure
Descriptive notes. Head—body 120-190 mm (males) and 115-175 mm (females), tail 75— 105 mm (males) and 55-95 (females); weight 160-185 g. Male Hall’s Pocket Gophers are usually larger than females. It is small for the genus. Hall's Pocket Gopher has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers, and it possesses fur-lined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Pelage color is yellowish cinnamon dorsally and white or pale buff ventrally. Anterior surface of each upper incisor has a large medial groove flanked by a smaller groove located along the inner margin of the tooth. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 70 and FN = 72.
Habitat. Sandy loams in open areas including mixed-grass prairies and pastures.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but Hall’s Pocket Gopher probably feeds on roots, tubers, stems, and leaves of most plants available within the vicinity of its burrow system. It readily invades cultivated fields and is considered an agricultural pest wherever it occurs in contact with humans. As in all other pocket gophers, the burrow system is a series of shallow feeding tunnels radiating spoke-like from a deeper, central network that contains one or more nest chambers and several smaller chambers for storage of food or fecal pellets.
Breeding. There is no information available for this species.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Hall’s Pocket Gopheris probably active at any hour of the day, with periods of peak activity around dawn and dusk. It does not hibernate and is active year-round.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but Hall’s Pocket Gopheris likely solitary and aggressively territorial. Individuals probably leave their burrow systems only rarely, meaning that their home range is defined by size and extent of their burrow system.
Status and Conservation. Hall's Pocket Gopher has not yet been assessed on The [UCN Red List, because it was traditionally considered a subspecies of the Southern Pocket Gopher (71. umbrinus ), listed as Least Concern.
Bibliography. Chambers et al. (2009), Jolley et al. (2000), Linzey & NatureServe (Hammerson) (20080), Patton (2005b), Sudman et al. (2006).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.