Merriam's pocket gopher

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Merriam's pocket gopher
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Geomyidae
Genus: Cratogeomys
Species:
C. merriami
Binomial name
Cratogeomys merriami
(Thomas, 1893)
Cratogeomys merriami range.png
Range
Synonyms

Pappogeomys merriami

Merriam's pocket gopher (Cratogeomys merriami) is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. [2] It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found in the area of the Valley of Mexico and the Valley of Toluca at elevations from 1800 to 4000 m. [1] Its favored habitats are the Zacatonal grassland and temperate pine-oak woodlands, as well as farmland and rangeland. [1] Its karyotype has 2n = 36 and FN = 68. [3]

Until 2005, what are now considered the separate species C. fulvescens and C. perotensis were included within this taxon. They were split off due to clear molecular, chromosomal and morphological differences. All three species are part of the C. castanops species group. [3]

The species is named after American mammalogist Clinton Hart Merriam. [4]

Although its distribution is patchy, it is not thought to be threatened. [1]

Related Research Articles

Gopher Family of burrowing rodents

Pocket gophers, commonly referred to simply as gophers, are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. The roughly 41 species are all endemic to North and Central America. They are commonly known for their extensive tunneling activities and their ability to destroy farms and gardens.

Yellow-faced pocket gopher Species of rodent

The yellow-faced pocket gopher is a species of pocket gopher that is native to shortgrass prairies in the south-western United States and northern Mexico. It is the species that lives north of the Southern Coahuila Filter-Barrier (SCFB). Among the different species, the yellow-faced pocket gopher has a small to medium-sized skull. The fossil of this genus was recorded from the pre-Pleistocene Benson Beds of Arizona.

Texas pocket gopher Species of rodent

The Texas pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Tamaulipas in Mexico and in Texas in the United States.

The Chiriqui pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Costa Rica and Panama. Some authors classify it in the genus Orthogeomys, but recent research has allowed this and its related species to be classified in the genus Heterogeomys.

Heterogeomys is a genus of rodent in the family Geomyidae, found in Mexico, Central America and Colombia. Heterogeomys are a small genus of rodents commonly known as pocket gophers, though the term applies to all genera within the family Geomyidae. The name pocket gopher was earned for this family because of their fur lined cheek pouches that can be used for carrying food. These pouches can also be turned inside out. Species of Heterogeomys are regarded as pests, one of less than 5% of rodent species classified as pests, and the history of man's attempts to control their populations reaches back into Mayan times. Despite some efforts to the contrary, populations of Heterogeomys seem to be on a general upwards trend. Furthermore, all of the species of Heterogeomys are considered to be of Least Concern in the World Status Key.

Cherrie's pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. It is threatened by habitat loss. Some authors classify it in the genus Orthogeomys, but recent research has allowed this and its related species to be classified in the genus Heterogeomys.

The Darien pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is occurs in Panama and Colombia. Some authors classify it in the genus Orthogeomys, but recent research has allowed this and its related species to be classified in the genus Heterogeomys.

The giant pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. It is the type species of the genus Orthogeomys; some zoologists also include in this genus species that have recently been placed in Heterogeomys.

The variable pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to Costa Rica, usually being found in grasslands and tropical forests at higher altitudes, up to 8,000 feet. It is threatened by habitat loss, but are sometimes kept as pets in the United States and elsewhere.

The hispid pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. Some authors classify it in the genus Orthogeomys, but recent research has allowed this and its related species to be classified in the genus Heterogeomys.

The big pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to Veracruz state in eastern Mexico. It has only been found on the southeastern slopes of Pico de Orizaba, at elevations of 1,300 metres (4,300 ft).

Underwood's pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to Costa Rica. Some authors classify it in the genus Orthogeomys, but recent research has allowed this and its related species to be classified in the genus Heterogeomys.

Buller's pocket gopher is a species of gopher that is endemic to Mexico. It is monotypic within the genus Pappogeomys.

Southern pocket gopher Species of rodent in the family Geomyidae, found in Mexico and the United States

The southern pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Mexico and the United States, usually in high altitude grassland and shrubland. It feeds on plant material and has an extensive burrow above which is a large heap of earth on the surface of the ground.

The Michoacan pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is monotypic within the genus Zygogeomys. It is endemic to Mexico where its natural habitat is temperate, high-altitude forests. Its numbers are declining and it is listed by the IUCN as "endangered".

<i>Cratogeomys</i> Genus of rodents

Cratogeomys is a genus of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It was previously considered a subgenus of Pappogeomys. All species are distributed in Mexico and the Southwest United States, with some species being found in both countries.

Goldman's pocket gopher, is a species of rodent in the pocket gopher family. It is distributed throughout northern Mexico.

Oriental Basin pocket gopher Species of rodent

The Oriental Basin pocket gopher is a species of pocket gopher which is endemic to Mexico. It was first described in 1895 by Clinton Hart Merriam. It was considered to be a subspecies of Merriam's pocket gopher in the late 20th and early 21st century but has been reinstated as its own species. The IUCN Red List has evaluated it to be of least concern.

The Perote pocket gopher, or Cofre de Perote pocket gopher, is a species of pocket gopher in the family Geomyidae.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T.; Lacher, T.; Vázquez, E. (2016). "Cratogeomys merriami". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T16028A22217011. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T16028A22217011.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ↑ Patton, J. L. (2005). "Family Geomyidae". In Wilson, D. E.; Reeder, D. M. (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 861. ISBN   978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC   62265494.
  3. 1 2 Hafner, M. S.; Light, J. E.; Hafner, D. J.; Brant, S. V.; Spradling, T. A.; Demastes, J. W. (2005). "Cryptic Species in the Mexican Pocket Gopher Cratogeomys merriami". Journal of Mammalogy. 86 (6): 1095–1108. doi: 10.1644/05-MAMM-A-064R1.1 .
  4. ↑ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2009-09-28). The Eponym Dictionary of Mammals. The Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 272. ISBN   978-0801893049. OCLC   270129903.


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