Oriental Basin pocket gopher

Last updated

Oriental Basin pocket gopher
North American Fauna No 8 Plate 12 Fig 2.png
Skull and basioccipital bone of male holotype
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Geomyidae
Genus: Cratogeomys
Species:
C. fulvescens
Binomial name
Cratogeomys fulvescens
Merriam, 1895 [2]
Synonyms
  • Pappogeomys (Cratogeomys) merriami fulvescens(Merriam, 1895) [3]
  • Cratogeomys fulvescens subluteusNelson and Goldman, 1934 [4]
  • Cratogeomys merriami fulvescensMerriam, 1895

The Oriental Basin pocket gopher (Cratogeomys fulvescens) 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 (Cratogeomys merriami) 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.

Contents

Description

C. fulvescens is mid-sized for the genus Cratogeomys and exhibits sexual dimorphism in size. Adult males weigh of 250–550 g (8.8–19.4 oz) and adult females weigh 250–350 g (8.8–12.3 oz). Its fur coloration is "grizzled yellowish-brown" with "a strong mixture of black-tipped hairs"; the underside is paler than the dorsal fur. [5] The cranial width of its skull is typically less than 26 mm (1.0 in), making it small for the genus. The dental formula is 1.0.1.31.0.1.3 × 2 = 20. Each upper incisor has a longitudinal groove along its anterior surface. [5] The total body length is 290–350 mm (11–14 in). [5]

Distribution

This species is endemic to a small region in the southern half of Mexico. [6] [1] Its range is in the Oriental Basin [5] of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, [7] and is within the Mexican states of Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz. [5] The elevation in its distribution spans 2,300–2,700 m (7,500–8,900 ft). [5] Merriam noted the type locality as: "Chalchicomula, State of Puebla, Mexico"; [2] this city is now known as Ciudad Serdán. [8] The type locality for the formerly-recognized subspecies C. f. subluteus is Perote, Veracruz. [4]

Taxonomic history

The American zoologist Clinton Hart Merriam wrote the species description for C. fulvescens in 1895. Merriam based his description on eleven specimens from Puebla and Veracruz, Mexico. In Merriam's classification of Cratogeomys, C. fulvescens was grouped with C. castanops on the basis of cranial morphology. [2]

In 1968, Robert J. Russell reclassified Cratogeomys to be a subgenus of Pappogeomys . [9] Russell also analyzed Merriam's C. fulvescens as being a subspecies of what was in his work called Pappogeomys (Cratogeomys) merriami . [3] Russell stated that of the seven subspecies he recognized for P. (C.) merriami, "the most divergent" was P. (C.) m. fulvescens due to differences in coloration, size, and cranial morphology. [10] This classification in E. Raymond Hall's 1981 The Mammals of North America also used the combination P. (C.) m. fulvescens for this taxon. [11] Cratogeomys was reinstated as a genus in 1982; [12] [8] the third edition of Mammal Species of the World refers to this taxon as C. m. fulvescens. [13]

C. fulvescens was reinstated as its own species in 2005 due to a genetic and morphological study by Mark S. Hafner and colleagues. They placed it in the C. castanops species group. [8] [6]

No subspecies are presently recognized. [5] [6] A subspecies, C. f. subluteus had been described in 1934 by Edward William Nelson and Edward Alphonso Goldman. [4] This subspecies was also known by the common names "yellow pocket gopher" [14] and "fulvous pocket gopher". [15]

The holotypes for C. fulvescens and for C. f. subluteus are both in the collections of the U.S. National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC. [16] Each specimen consists of its preserved skin and its skull. [17] Nelson and Goldman collected both holotypes: The C. fulvescens holotype was collected in 1894, [2] and the C. f. subluteus holotype was collected in 1893. [4]

The specific epithet fulvescens ( fulv -esc -ens , "yellowing") is the Latin present participle of the inchoative form of the verb meaning "to become tawny". The epithet of its formerly recognized subspecies, subluteus ( sub- luteus ), is a Latin adjective meaning "yellowish". [18] The common name for the species, Oriental Basin pocket gopher, refers to the Oriental Basin in Mexico, where it is found. [5] Its common name in Spanish is gran tuza de la Cuenca de Oriental. [19]

Biology

G. fulvescens paratypes in the Natural History Museum, London Geomydoecus fulvescens NHMUK010697131.jpg
G. fulvescens paratypes in the Natural History Museum, London

C. fulvescens's diet consists of rhizomes, bulbs, and roots. [5] Pregnancy has been observed from December through February. [5] Because pregnancy was not observed in July, it is thought they only have one litter each year. [14]

Two species of chewing lice in the genus Geomydoecus have C. fulvescens as a host: G. fulvescens and G. veracruzensis . [20] [21] Both species were described in 1971 by Roger D. Price and K. C. Emerson. [22] The flea species Dasypsyllus megasoma and Meringis altipecten were also observed on C. fulvescens; although it is thought the presence of M. altipecten is thought to have been accidental rather than due to being a typical ectoparasite for the species. [23] The nematode species Vexillata convoluta is also a parasite of C. fulvescens. [24]

Genetics

Its diploid number is 2n=40 and its fundamental number is FN=72. [5] C. fulvescens contains an autapomorphic allele for the gene RAG1 distinguishing it from C. perotensis and C. merriami. [8]

Conservation status and relationship with humans

The IUCN Red List has classified this species as a least-concern species, [1] and SEMARNAT did not include it in its 2010 list of threatened or endangered mammals of Mexico. [25] [5] Although its observed habitat is less than 20,000 km2 (7,700 sq mi), it is believed to be "common and adaptable". [1] Part of its range is affected by habitat loss due to human expansion. [1] C. fulvescens were found as roadkill along a highway going through its range. [26] [27] Mark S. Hafner wrote there ought to be further studies on its conservation status, particularly as its geographic range is smaller than that of other Mexican pocket gophers. [5] C. fulvescens have been observed in farmland and might be considered to be a pest [5] as they destroy crops including wheat, corn, and beans. [2] [15]

Related Research Articles

Heteromyidae Family of rodents

Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice. Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the genus Heteromys are also found in forests and their range extends down as far as northern South America. They feed mostly on seeds and other plant parts, which they carry in their fur-lined cheek pouches to their burrows.

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.

Desert pocket gopher Species of rodent

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

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 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).

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

Merriams pocket gopher Species of rodent

Merriam's pocket gopher is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. 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. Its favored habitats are the Zacatonal grassland and temperate pine-oak woodlands, as well as farmland and rangeland. Its karyotype has 2n = 36 and FN = 68.

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.

James L. Patton American geneticist

James Lloyd Patton, is an American evolutionary biologist and mammalogist. He is emeritus professor of integrative biology and curator of mammals at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley and has made extensive contributions to the systematics and biogeography of several vertebrate taxa, especially small mammals.

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 5 Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T.; Castro-Arellano, I.; Lacher, T.; Vázquez, E. (2017). "Cratogeomys fulvescens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T136215A22217087. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T136215A22217087.en . Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Merriam, C. Hart (1895). Monographic Revision of the Pocket Gophers Family Geomyidæ (Exclusive of the species of Thomomys). North American Fauna. Vol. 8. Washington: Government Printing Office. pp. 151, 161–162.
  3. 1 2 Russell (1968), pp. 700–703.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Nelson, E. W.; Goldman, E. A. (1934). "Revision of the Pocket Gophers of the Genus Cratogeomys". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 47: 152.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Hafner, Mark S. (2013). "Oriental Basin pocket gopher". In Ceballos, Geraldo (ed.). Mammals of Mexico. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 247–248. ISBN   9781421408439.
  6. 1 2 3 Ramírez-Pulido, José; González-Ruiz, Noé; Gardner, Alfred L.; Arroyo-Cabrales, Arroyo-Cabrales (2014). List of Recent Land Mammals of Mexico, 2014. Special Publications of the Museum of Texas Tech University. Vol. 63. Lubbock, TX: Museum of Texas Tech University. pp. 21. 53. hdl: 10088/33974 . ISBN   978-1-929330-27-0.
  7. ↑ Fernández, Jesús A.; Hafner, Mark S.; Hafner, David J.; Cervantes, Fernando A. (2014). "Conservation status of rodents of the families Geomyidae and Heteromyidae of Mexico". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 85 (2): 579. doi: 10.7550/rmb.36710 .
  8. 1 2 3 4 Hafner, Mark S.; Light, Jessica E.; Hafner, David J.; Brant, Sara V.; Spradling, Theresa A.; Demastes, James 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 .
  9. ↑ Russell (1968), pp. 591–594.
  10. ↑ Russell (1968), pp. 695–697.
  11. ↑ Hall, E. Raymond (1981). The Mammals of North America. Vol. 1. New York: John Wiley & Sohns. p. 522. ISBN   978-0-471-05443-6.
  12. ↑ Honeycutt, R. L.; Williams, S. L. (1982). "Genic Differentiation in Pocket Gophers of the Genus Pappogeomys, with Comments on Intergeneric Relationships in the Subfamily Geomyinae". Journal of Mammalogy. 63 (2): 208–217. doi:10.2307/1380629. JSTOR   1380629.
  13. ↑ 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.
  14. 1 2 Davis, William B. (1944). "Notes on Mexican Mammals". Journal of Mammalogy. 25 (4): 388. doi:10.2307/1374900. JSTOR   1374900.
  15. 1 2 Hall, E. Raymond; Dalquest, Walter W. (1963). "The Mammals of Veracruz". University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History. 14 (14): 280–281.
  16. ↑ Wilson, Don E. (1991). "Especímenes tipo de mamíferos mexicanos en el National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D. C., EUA". Anales del Instituto de Biología. Serie Zoología. 62 (2): 293. ISSN   0368-8720.
  17. ↑ Poole, Arthur J.; Schantz, Viola S. (1942). "Catalog of the Type Specimens of Mammals in the United States National Museum, Including the Biological Surveys Collection". Smithsonian Institution United States National Museum Bulletin. 178: 367.
  18. ↑ Glare, P. G. W. (1968). "sublūteus". Oxford Latin Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 1844.
  19. ↑ Castañeda, Sergio Ticul Alvarez; González-Ruiz, Noé (2018). "Spanish and English Vernacular Names of Mammals of North America". THERYA. 9 (1): 80. ISSN   2007-3364.
  20. ↑ Price, Roger D.; Hellenthal, Ronald A. (1989). "Geomydoecus (Mallophaga: Trichodectidae) from Pappogeomys and Zygogeomys Pocket Gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) in Central Mexico". Journal of Medical Entomology. 26 (5): 390–391, 395. doi:10.1093/jmedent/26.5.385. PMID   2795610.
  21. ↑ Light, Jessica E.; Hafner, Mark S. (2007). "Cophylogeny and disparate rates of evolution in sympatric lineages of chewing lice on pocket gophers" (PDF). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 45 (3): 1009. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2007.09.001. PMID   17964189.
  22. ↑ Price, Roger D.; Emerson, K. C. (1971). "A Revision of the Genus Geomydoecus (Mallophaga: Trichodectidae) of the New World Pocket Gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae)". Journal of Medical Entomology. 8 (3): 230, 253, 256–257. doi:10.1093/jmedent/8.3.228. PMID   5118865.
  23. ↑ Acosta, Roxana; Fernández, Jesús A. (2015). "Flea diversity and prevalence on arid-adapted rodents in the Oriental Basin, Mexico". Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 86 (4): 984, 986. doi: 10.1016/j.rmb.2015.09.014 .
  24. ↑ Escalante, Tania; Martínez-Salazar, Elizabeth A.; Falón-Ordaz, Jorge; Linaje, Miguel; Guerrero, Ricardo (2011). "Análisis panbiogeográfico de Vexillata (Nematoda: Ornithostrongylidae) y sus huéspedes (Mammalia: Rodentia)" [Panbiogeographic analysis of Vexillata (Nematoda: Ornithostrongylidae) and its hosts (Mammalia: Rodentia)]. Acta Zoológica Mexicana. (nueva serie). 27 (1): 29. doi: 10.21829/azm.2011.271732 . ISSN   0065-1737.
  25. ↑ SEMARNAT (2010). "NORMA Oficial Mexicana NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010, Protección ambiental-Especies nativas de México de flora y fauna silvestres-Categorías de riesgo y especificaciones para su inclusión, exclusión o cambio-Lista de especies en riesgo". Diario Oficial de la Federación. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
  26. ↑ González-Gallina, Alberto; Benítez-Badillo, Griselda; Rojas-Soto, Octavio R.; Hidalgo-Mihart, Mircea G. (2012). "The small, the forgotten and the dead: highway impact on vertebrates and its implications for mitigation strategies". Biodiversity and Conservation. 22 (2): 331. doi:10.1007/s10531-012-0396-x. S2CID   17140075.
  27. ↑ González-Gallina, Alberto; Benítez-Badillo, Griselda; Hidalgo-Mihart, Mircea G.; Equihua, Miguel; Rojas-Soto, Octavio R. (2016). "Roadkills as a complementary information source for biological surveys using rodents as a model". Journal of Mammalogy. 97 (1): 149–150. doi: 10.1093/jmammal/gyv165 .

Works cited

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.