29.

Chiriqui Pocket Gopher

Heterogeomys cavator

French: Gaufre du Chiriqui / German: Chiriqui-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Chiriqui

Taxonomy. Macrogeomys cavator Bangs, 1902,

“Boquete, 4,800 feet” (Chiriqui, Panama).

Placed into subgenus Macrogeomys. Heterogeomys considered a subgenus of Orthogeomys by J. L. Patton in 2005 but was resurrected to genus status by T. A. Spradling and colleagues in 2016. Molecular studies suggest that H. cavatoris sister to H. dariensis. Three subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H.c.cavatorBangs,1902—CordilleradeTalamancaofECostaRicaandWPanama.

H.c.nigrescensGoodwin,1943—WendofCordilleradeTalamancainCCostaRica.

H. c. pansa Bangs, 1902 — SE Costa Rica into SW Panama.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 220-270 mm, tail 110-130 mm; weight 500-910 g. Dorsal pelage of the Chiriqui Pocket Gopher is dark brown, almost black, and ventral pelage 1s gray-brown. Pelage is dense and coarse in individuals from high elevations and sparse in individuals from low elevations. The Chiriqui Pocket Gopher has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers and possesses fur-lined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Anterior surface of each upper incisor has a single medial groove. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 78.

Habitat. Well-drained soils in a variety of habitats ranging from mixed conifer—hardwood forests at high elevations to open pasturelands near sea level. Elevational range is from nearsea level to ¢.3200 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Chiriqui Pocket Gopher probably feeds on roots, tubers, stems, and leaves of most plants available within the vicinity ofits burrow system. 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 orfecal pellets.

Breeding. There is no information available for this species.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Chiriqui 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 Chiriqui Pocket Gopheris likely solitary and aggressively territorial. Individuals probably leave their burrow systems only rarely, meaning that their home range is defined bysize and extent of their burrow system.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [IUCN Red List (as Orthogeomys cavator).

Bibliography. Hafner (1991), Patton (2005b), Reid (1997), Samudio & Pino (2008b), Spradling et al. (2016).