Geomys lutescens Merriam 1890

15.

Sand Hills Pocket Gopher

Geomys lutescens

French: Gaufre des Sand Hills / German: Nebraska-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Sand Hills

Other common names: Pale Pocket Gopher

Taxonomy. Geomys bursarius lutescens Merriam, 1890,

“Sand Hills, Birdwood Creek, Lincoln County, Nebraska,” USA.

Geomys lutescens was formerly considered a subspecies of G. bursarius and was elevated to species status by L. R. Heaney and R. M. Timm in 1983. Molecular studies suggest that G. lutescens sister to G. jugossicularis. Monotypic.

Distribution. E Wyoming, W Nebraska and adjacent parts of SW South Dakota, and NW Colorado, USA.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 130-190 mm (males) and 115-175 mm (females), tail 75-105 mm (males) and 55-95 mm (females); weight 160-185 g. Male Sand Hills Pocket Gophers are usually larger than females. It is medium size for the genus. It has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers, and it possesses fur-lined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Pelage coloris variable, usually with a yellowish cast, especially on sides of body. Most Sand Hills Pocket Gophers have a middorsal stripe (2-5 cm wide) that is slightly darker than surrounding pelage. 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 = 72 and FN = 86-98.

Habitat. Restricted to deep, sandy soils in open habitats including mixed-grass prairies and pastures.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Sand Hills 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 the Sand Hills 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 the Sand Hills 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. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List (as G. bursarius lutescens).

Bibliography. Chambers et al. (2009), Heaney & Timm (1983), Jolley et al. (2000), Linzey & NatureServe (Hammerson) (20080), Patton (2005b).