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= Gopher =
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Introduction
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{{Automatic taxobox
| name = Pocket gophers
| fossil_range =
| image = Pocket-Gopher_Ano-Nuevo-SP.jpg
| image_caption = Botta's pocket gopher ('Thomomys bottae')
| taxon = Geomyidae
| authority = Bonaparte, 1845
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = 'Cratogeomys'
'Geomys'
'Orthogeomys'
'Pappogeomys'
'Thomomys'
'Zygogeomys'
| diversity = Around 35 species in 6 genera
}}
Pocket gophers, commonly referred to as just gophers, are burrowing
rodents of the family Geomyidae. There are about 35 species, all
endemic to North and Central America. They are commonly known for
their extensive tunneling activities and their ability to destroy
farms and gardens.
The name 'pocket gopher' on its own may refer to any of a number of
genera within the family Geomyidae. These are the "true" gophers, but
several ground squirrels in the distantly related family Sciuridae are
often called "gophers", as well. The origin of the word 'gopher' is
uncertain; French 'gaufre', meaning 'waffle', has been suggested, on
account of the gopher tunnels resembling the honeycomb-like pattern of
holes in a waffle; another suggestion is that the word is of Muskogean
origin.A typical pocket gopher
Description
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Gophers weigh around 1/2 lb, and are about 6-8 in in body length, with
a tail 1-2 in long. A few species reach weights approaching 1 kg.
Within any species, the males are larger than the females and can be
nearly double their weight.
Average lifespans are one to three years. The maximum lifespan for the
pocket gopher is about five years. Some gophers, such as those in the
genus 'Geomys', have lifespans that have been documented as up to
seven years in the wild.
Most gophers have brown fur that often closely matches the color of
the soil in which they live. Their most characteristic features are
their large cheek 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 external parasites.
Common predators of the gopher include weasels, snakes, and hawks.
Behavior
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All pocket gophers create a network of tunnel systems that provide
protection and a means of collecting food. They are larder hoarders,
and their cheek pouches are used for transporting food back to their
burrows. Gophers can collect large hoards. Unlike ground 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. Burrows are in many areas where the
soil is softer and easily tunneled. Gophers often visit vegetable
gardens, lawns, or farms, as gophers like moist soil (see Soil
biomantle). This has led to their frequent treatment as pests.
Gophers eat plant roots, shrubs, and other vegetables such as carrots,
lettuce, radishes, and any other vegetables with juice. Some species
are considered agricultural pests. The resulting destruction of plant
life then leaves the area a stretch of denuded soil. At the same
time, the soil disturbance created by turning it over can lead to the
early establishment of ecological succession in communities of
r-selected and other ruderal plant species. The stashing and
subsequent decomposition of plant material in the gophers' larder can
produce deep fertilization of the soil.
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.
Although they attempt to flee when threatened, they may attack other
animals, including cats 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 are weaned around 40 days old.
Control
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'Geomys' and 'Thomomys' species are classed as "prohibited new
organisms" under New Zealand's Hazardous Substances and New Organisms
Act 1996, preventing them from being imported into the country.
Classification
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Much debate exists among taxonomists about which races of pocket
gophers should be recognized as full species, and the following list
cannot be regarded as definitive.