Cratogeomys perotensis Merriam 1895

39.

Cofre de Perote Pocket Gopher

Cratogeomys perotensis

French: Gaufre du Perote / German: Veracruz-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Cofre de Perote

Taxonomy. Cratogeomys perotensis Merriam, 1895,

“Cofre de Perote, Vera Cruz, Mexico (altitude 9,500 feet).”

Cratogeomys was regarded as a subgenus of Pappogeomys by R.J. Russell in 1968 but was returned to generic status by R. L.. Honeycutt and S. L. Willams in 1982. C. perotensis was recognized as a subspecies of C. mer riami by Russell in 1968 and |. L.. Patton in 2005, but it was resurrected to species status by M. S. Hafner and colleagues in 2005. Molecular studies show C. perotensis to be closely related to C. merriami and C. fulvescens, and these three species together with C. goldmani and C. castanops comprise the C. castanops species group. Monotypic.

Distribution. Patchily distributed in the Plain of Apan in S Hidalgo E through N Puebla, N Tlaxcala, and WC Veracruz S to Cofre de Perote and Pico de Orizaba volcanoes, Mexico.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 210-250 mm (males) and 200-245 mm (females), tail 80-115 mm (males) and 80-110 mm (females); weight 290-600 g (males) and 280-600 g (females). Male Cofre de Perote Pocket Gophers are often larger than females, but sexual dimorphism is not as pronounced as it is in many other geomyid species. Body size is medium 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. Dorsal color varies from light to dark brown, and ventral color is similar but paler. Most, perhaps all, Cofre de Perote Pocket Gophers have one or more small patches of white fur near bases of their tails. Anterior surface of each upper incisor has a single medial groove slightly displaced to the inner side of the tooth. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 38 and FN = 72.

Habitat. Wide variety of habitats, most characterized by arid conditions, sandy soils, and xeric-adapted vegetation. Near the lower end ofits elevational distribution, the Cofre de Perote Pocket Gopher is found in dry, sparsely vegetated, desert habitat dominated by alkaline-tolerant plants. At higher elevations, it occurs in open areas surrounded by oak, pine, spruce, and fir woodlands and in grassy mountain hillsides and meadows. Plants often associated with the Cofre de Perote Pocket Gopher include bacharris (Bacharris sp., Asteraceae), ragworts (Senecio sp., Asteraceae), lupin (Lupinus sp., Fabaceae), and bunch grasses (Muhlenbergia sp. and Festuca sp., both Poaceae). The Cofre de Perote Pocket Gopheris known from elevations of 2400-4000 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but all pocket gophers that have been studied eat predominately underground roots and tubers and a limited amount of surface vegetation. The Cofre de Perote Pocket Gopher readily invades cultivated fields and is considered an agricultural pest wherever it comes 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 Cofre de Perote Pocket is 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 Cofre de Perote 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 Last.

Bibliography. Alvarez-Castafeda, Castro-Arellano, Lacher & Vazquez (2008g), Ceballos (2014), Hafner et al. (2005), Honeycutt & Williams (1982), Patton (2005b), Russell (1968b).