37 Different Types of Gophers

Gophers are rodents, most notably found in North America. They have a paunchy body and a short tail. There are over 37 species (types) of gophers, and they vary in size and habitat which makes it difficult to identify one from another based on their appearance alone.

Knowing what type of animal you’re looking for is crucial if you want to properly remove them from your property as they can damage crops, vegetation, buildings, other animals’ homes – they can cause all sorts of problems.

Luckily for you we’ve put together this handy guide that will teach you how to identify these pesky creatures before you take any action.

Gopher Species in the Genus Cratogeomys

#1 Goldman’s Pocket Gopher

Known scientifically as Cratogeomys goldmani, the Goldman’s pocket gopher is a rodent and of the members of the pocket gopher family. It may be found in abundance across northern Mexico.

#2 Merriam’s Pocket Gopher

The Merriam’s pocket gopher, known scientifically as Cratogeomys merriami, is a species of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family of rodents.

It is mostly found in Mexico, where it may be found at elevations ranging from 1800 to 4000 meters above sea level in the Valley of Mexico and the Valley of Toluca.

Its preferred habitats are the Zacatonal grassland and temperate pine-oak woods, as well as farms and rangeland, among other things. Despite the fact that it has a patchy range, it is not considered to be endangered.

Clinton Hart Merriam, an American mammalogist, was honored by having this species named after him.

#3 Oriental Basin Pocket Gopher

The Oriental Basin pocket gopher is native to Mexico. It is a medium-sized Cratogeomys with sexual dimorphism. Typical mature male and female weights are 250 to 550 grams and 250 to 350 grams, respectively.

Its fur is grizzled yellowish-brown with a significant combination of black-tipped hairs, having a lighter underside than the dorsal side. Its skull is tiny compared to other species in the genus, measuring less than 25 millimeters.

This species is found only in southern Mexico. Its distribution includes the Mexican states of Puebla, Tlaxcala, and Veracruz. Its distribution elevation range is 7000 to 9000 feet.

The Oriental Basin pocket gopher is scientifically known as Cratogeomys fulvescens or simply C. fulvescens.

#4 Smoky Pocket Gopher

The smoky pocket gopher, known scientifically as Cratogeomys fumosus, is a species of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family. It is native to North America. It is only found in one part of Mexico, a place called Querétaro.

Its native habitat is lowland grassland in subtropical or tropical climates. They may be found in the Neotropical region of the world. They are terrestrial creatures who subsist mostly on plants as their primary source of nutrition.

Due to the fact that they reproduce in a viviparous and dioecious manner, female gophers stay away from males unless during the mating season.

#5 Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher

This is a rare ground rodent species found in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is commonly seen north of the Southern Coahuila Filter Barrier.

Unlike other gophers, their skull size varies widely from small to medium sizes depending on the geographical location.

One deep groove below the anterior center of each tooth distinguishes the yellow-faced pocket gopher from other species. Other unique features include a short tail and a yellowish-brown coat.

The male gophers of this species are bigger than the females. Male pocket gophers of all genera continue to develop beyond sexual maturity, while females usually do not. The species is scientifically known as Cratogeomys castanops.

Gopher Species in the Genus Geomys

#6 Attwater’s Pocket Gopher

The Attwater’s pocket gopher, known scientifically as Geomys attwateri is a Geomyidae rodent. It is native to the Texas Coastal Bend in the US.

Its distribution ranges from the Brazos River in eastern Texas to the San Antonio River in southern Texas, as well as along the coast from Matagorda to San Patricio counties. The whole geographic distribution of this species is confined to Texas.

This gopher is a herbivore that eats a variety of perennial and annual plants.

Attwater’s pocket gopher tunnels are more tortuous. There are no lateral or blind branches in their burrows. This may be due to resource clumping, adaptations to low population density, or social structure.

#7 Baird’s Pocket Gopher

The Baird’s pocket gopher (Geomys breviceps), sometimes known as Louisiana pocket gopher, is a pocket gopher species native to the southern United States.

Eastern Texas, western Louisiana, eastern Oklahoma, and southern Arkansas are home to Baird’s pocket gopher.

It is a burrowing organism, which means it builds tunnels and spends most of its time underground, with the exception of wet seasons. It possesses sharp, long, curved front claws that are adapted to dig.

Because it lives underground, it is generally secure from predators, however other burrowing rodents such as badgers and long-tailed weasels may pose a hazard.

Baird’s pocket gophers have bacteria in their digestive systems that allow them to digest a variety of grasses and re-ingest fecal pellets.

One of the primary reasons for its survival is because it is polygamous and has a high reproduction rate. Baird’s pocket gophers have two to three young each litter on average. In the wild, it lives for approximately a year and a half.

#8 Central Texas Pocket Gopher

The Central Texas Pocket Gopher, known scientifically as Geomys texensis, and also known as Llano pocket gopher looks remarkably similar to its near cousins, the plains pocket gopher and Knox Jones’s pocket gopher.

On average, males measure 18 cm and females 15 cm, with a 6-centimeter tail. White underparts and feet with a lighter, yellowish collar around the neck. The winter coat is darker than the summer coat, with pale grey underparts.

Geomys texensis is found in central Texas. Some specimens are found in San Saba County, North of McCulloch County, and south to Zavala, Frio, and Medina counties.

The three subspecies of Geomys texensis (llanensis, texensis, and bakeri) are classified as either northern or southern dwellers.

#9 Desert Pocket Gophers

The desert pocket gophers, known scientifically as Geomys arenarius, is a Geomyidae rodent. In addition to a lengthy, hairy tail, this species has a light coloring. They have big, strong-clawed forelimbs and thicker bodies than other rodents.

Their fur is drab brown with black-tipped hairs on their backs. On the breast, belly, and feet, the dull brown color occasionally mixes with the white hair.

They live in a small stretch of terrain from Chihuahua, Mexico, north, and west into sections of New Mexico and Texas in the United States. They are separated from other Geomys due to their small home range.

Desert pocket gophers require well-traveled, loose soil or sandy riverbanks for burrowing. They are often found along rivers, ponds, and irrigation canals, but they live on rocky plains or deserts.

Their ideal environment is arid and dry, with long, scorching summers and short, mild winters.

The desert pocket gopher, in comparison to other gopher species, can have a considerable impact on the soils in the environments it inhabits because it disturbs the soil more than other species.

#10 Knox Jones’s Pocket Gopher

Knox Jones’ pocket gopher, known scientifically as Geomys knoxjonesi, is a tiny gopher with a 24 cm total length, 8 cm long tail, and a weight of 160 to 185 g. Males outnumber females.

It possesses gopher-like forelimbs, tiny eyes and ears, and fur-lined cheek pouches. The fur is buff-brown with a white belly and paws.

It is physically indistinguishable from the plains pocket gopher and was previously classified as a subspecies before being elevated to species status in 1989.

Knox Jones’ pocket gopher is found in southeastern New Mexico as far as Chaves County, Texas. It prefers deep sandy soils over the tougher loamy soils preferred by the plains pocket gopher, and feeds on yucca, sunflowers and other grasses.

Except for the period from October to April, the gopher is territorial and solitary. The babies are weaned after three to four weeks of gestation.

#11 Plains Pocket Gopher

The plains pocket gopher, known scientifically as Geomys bursarius is named after its fur-lined cheek pouches. They are burrowing mammals found in the Great Plains of North America, from Manitoba to Texas.

This gopher has brownish-black top-body hair and light brown or tan underparts. White hairs cover the tops of the feet, leaving the tail practically bare.

They have adapted over the years to have short naked ears as well as small eyes. Unlike other pocket gophers, this species does not employ bent incisors to help the feet in digging.

For grooming, the exterior cheek pouches may be flipped inside out. They have a front aperture and can hold food up to 7 cm long.

From southern Manitoba (Canada) and eastern North Dakota south to New Mexico and Texas in the United States, and as far east as extreme western Indiana, plains pocket gophers can be found.

Eight subspecies are now recognized, with several previous subspecies being considered species in their own right.

Plains pocket gophers require deep, sandy, friable soils for digging and eating plant roots. Gophers may be found in prairie meadows, agricultural land, and even urban settings.

Plains pocket gophers are active year-round, with the exception of mating season. These gophers spend 72 percent of their time in their burrows, emerging only to look for food, mates, or to construct new burrows.

These rats appear to exploit their heightened sensitivity to soil vibration to maintain their solitary existence. They seldom inspect other gophers’ tunnels, although they do check abandoned ones.

#12 Southeastern pocket gopher

The southeastern pocket gopher, known scientifically as Geomys pinetis, is smaller than the plains pocket gopher, at 260 mm long, including the tail. Males weigh 176 g on average, while females weigh 136 g.

The dorsal hair is cinnamon brown, with buff or reddish-yellow underparts. White or light buff feet and tail. The exterior cheek pouches may be flipped inside out for grooming.

It has big, projecting incisor teeth for ripping roots and robust claws on the forefeet for digging.

This gopher species is only found in the southeastern United States, in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

It lives in sand-hill terrain with longleaf pine and turkey oak, as well as slightly moister hammocks with Quercus virginiana and other hardwood species.

The longleaf pine forest and scrubby sand pine habitats are where it is found.

The countless mounds of sandy earth it pushes to the surface make its presence known. It leads a solitary life and excavates piles of excavated material above shallow tunnels.

Using the front limbs and chest to push the earth up, the tunnel forms a fan-shaped mound. Soil blocks the burrow opening.

It’s connected to a deeper structure by a spiral staircase. There is a nest chamber underneath, which may contain dried plants as well as plant fibers.

#13 Texas Pocket Gopher

Texas pocket gopher, scientifically known as Geomys personatus, is found in southern Texas as far north as Val Verde and San Patricio counties and Tamaulipas, Mexico’s most north-easterly state.

It is prevalent in the Gulf of Mexico’s Mustang and Padre Islands.

Males reach a length of 32 cm, including an 11 cm tail. Both sexes weigh around 400 grams. The ventral surface is white with darker spots on the dorsal area. Tail hair is sparse, especially at the tip. Upper incisors have grooves.

Texas pocket gophers live in tunnel systems with up to 30 m of passageways. It protects its burrow by wheezing and gnashing its teeth. Surface openings are plugged with dirt. Excavated soil spoil heaps might be 50 by 12 cm.

#14 Tropical Pocket Gopher

The tropical pocket gopher, known scientifically as Geomys tropicalis, is a species that is only found in Mexico and the Caribbean. Its natural environment consists of scorching deserts.

On its back and head, the tropical pocket gopher has a cinnamon to brown coloration. The underparts of its body are covered with white fur, while its tail is mostly bare.

They have big front feet, tiny eyes, and a hefty body, all of which contribute to their appearance. Males are on average bigger than females in height and weight.

The tropical pocket gopher is only found in a tiny area at the southeastern point of the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, where it has a restricted distribution. The tropical pocket gopher has a diploid number of 38, which indicates that it is a female.

This is low when compared to other species of the same kind. This might assist them in adjusting to their new, more limited environment.

Because their numbers are so small, there is a significant likelihood that they will lose too much genetic diversity in order to live.

Gopher Species in the Genus Orthogeomys

#15 Big Pocket Gopher

The big pocket gopher scientifically known as Orthogeomys lanius, is a kind of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family of rodents.

It is only found in the state of Veracruz in eastern Mexico, where it is endemic. This species has only been discovered on the southeastern slopes of Pico de Orizaba, at heights of around 1,300 metres.

It is linked to massive destruction of agricultural crops in the area, especially corn and beans.

#16 Cherries Pocket Gopher

The Cherrie’s pocket gopher, known scientifically as Orthogeomys cherrie, is around 6 to 8 inches long with sturdy brown and grey bodies.

These animals are rarely seen above ground owing to their tunneling technique, which helps them to avoid predators and people.

They can promote habitat degradation by plugging water holes and digging up tree roots.

The Cherrie’s Pocket Gopher is found in Costa Rica’s lowlands, forests, and agricultural regions. Many farmers and homeowners try to eliminate them with pesticides that are not only harmful to them, but also to the environment.

There are way too many Cherrie’s Pocket Gophers. The gophers dig across fields, damaging crops and their roots.

#17 Chiriqui Pocket Gopher

The Chiriqui pocket gopher, known scientifically as Orthogeomys cavator, inhabits the Talamancan montane forests as well as the Isthmian-Pacific wet forests and of Panama and Costa Rica.

Central and western Central America are covered in lush tropical rainforests. High temperatures, humidity, and dense, diverse vegetation define these places.

They spend much of their time underground, in self-built tunnel networks. The Burrows are shallow tube networks 10 to 30 cm below the surface.

Pocket gopher tunnels may be identified by the mounds of earth left behind. At the entrance of these tunnels or burrows are fan-shaped mounds of dirt that prevent floods.

Chiriqui pocket gophers have robust bodies, big heads, and strong fore and rear limbs.

Strong ridges, a flattened appearance, and powerful jaw muscles are adaptations for digging. Their tiny eyes are shielded from dirt by extremely tight eyelids.

#18 Darien Pocket Gopher

The Darien pocket gopher, scientifically known as Orthogeomys dariensis, is a kind of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family of rodents. It is mainly found in Panama.

#19 Giant Pocket Gopher

The Giant pocket gopher, scientifically as Orthogeomys grandis, is the biggest species of pocket gopher in the Geomyidae family. Colour: reddish-brown to black with a light, thinly furred undersides.

Gophers have sensitive vibrissae on their body. Individual head, body, and tail measurements range from 22 to 29 cm. Individuals weigh around 800 grams.

Females cease growing after they reach sexual maturity, but males continue to develop throughout their lives.

It has a large, stocky body with virtually indistinct necks. Tails are extremely vascularized and sensitive. As a result, gophers utilize their tails as touch organs to navigate their underground tunnels.

When burrows grow too heated, their tails may dissipate body heat.

Their tiny eyes and ears fit their subterranean existence. Their lids are tight and a flap covers their auditory canals. Lacrimal glands generate a clear fluid that keeps their corneas clean.

Their lips may be closed behind their huge incisors, allowing them to dig without putting dirt in their mouths.

#20 Hispid Pocket Gopher

The hispid pocket gopher, scientifically known as Orthogeomys hispidus, is a species of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family of rodents. It may be found in Belize, Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala, among other places.

#21 Nicaraguan pocket gopher

The Nicaraguan pocket gopher, scientifically known as Orthogeomys matagalpae, is a species of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family.

It is native to Nicaragua, but it may also be found in some parts of Honduras.

#22 Oaxacan Pocket Gopher

The Oaxacan pocket gopher, scientifically known as Orthogeomys cuniculus is a rare pocket gopher species found only in Oaxaca state in southern Mexico, where it is restricted to a few isolated locations on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

It is a member of the pocket gopher genus Orthogeomys.

#23 Thaeler’s pocket gopher

The Thaeler’s pocket gopher, scientifically known as Orthogeomys thaeleri, is a species of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family.

Thaeler’s pocket gophers are mainly found in Columbia, where they are endemic.

#24 Underwood’s pocket gopher

The Underwood’s pocket gopher, scientifically known as Orthogeomys underwoodi, is a species of rodent that belongs to the Geomyidae family.

Underwood’s pocket gophers are generally found in Columbia.

#25 Variable Pocket Gopher

The variable pocket gopher, known scientifically as Orthogeomys heterodus is a Geomyidae rodent. It is found in grasslands and tropical woods at higher elevations, up to 8,000 feet.

It is endangered by habitat loss, yet is maintained as a pet in the US and abroad.

The gopher has silky, thick hair that is blackish on the back and whitish on the front. Each upper incisor has a longitudinal groove. Large specimens weigh 450 to 1000 grams and measure 30 to 45 cm in length.

Gopher Species in the Genus Pappogeomys

#26 Alcorn’s Pocket Gopher

The Alcorn’s pocket gopher, scientifically known as Pappogeomys alcorni, is a species of pocket gopher that is only found in Mexico.

Mountain pine-oak woodland located at an elevation of 900 to 3000 meters above sea level, in the Sierra del Tigre of southern Jalisco serves as the Alcorn’s pocket gopher’s native habitat.

It has a reputation for causing harm to maize and bean crops, and farmers have long regarded it as a nuisance.

The species is regarded to be critically endangered at this point in its life.

#27 Buller’s Pocket Gopher

The Buller’s pocket gopher, scientifically known as Pappogeomys bulleri, is native to west-central Mexico. Each individual is generally under 270 mm long and weighs under 250 g.

The tail of the Buller’s pocket gopher is often bare and white and is half the length of the head and body of this species.

The stocky physique, fusiform shape, strong jaws and incisors, huge muscular forelimbs, and shortened rear limbs and hips of this species indicate that it is well adapted to digging.

This species eats xerophytic shrub roots, grasses, and forbs.

Forested highlands, mountain meadows, vegetated plains, and coastal lowlands including regions at sea level to above 3,000 m in height are all optimal habitats for this gopher species.

Buller’s pocket gopher inhabits deep volcanic soils in hilly areas. Also found in semitropical settings, near cultivated soil used for producing crops, and near-tropical plants.

This species excels in creating tunnel networks for protection from predators, food storage, and raising young. Burrows generally have a primary channel with several branches.

Deeper tunnels are utilized for breeding and food storage, whereas shallow tunnels are used for foraging. Buller’s pocket gopher burrows average 20 cm in depth and 9 cm in diameter.

Gopher Species in the Genus Thomomys

#28 Botta’s Pocket Gopher

The Botta’s pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys bottae, is a western North American pocket gopher. It is also known as the valley pocket gopher in California.

Botta’s pocket gophers are medium-sized rodents measuring 7 to 10.5 inches with a 2 to 2.5-inch tail. Males weigh 150 to 250 g, while females weigh 120 to 200 g. Many researchers believe that male pocket gophers never stop developing.

As a result of size variety, males are larger than females, and the largest male may not necessarily be the oldest.

Coloring has been used to differentiate some of the numerous subspecies, and it can change throughout the year whenever they molt.

This pocket gopher may be found from California east through Texas, and from Utah to Mexico.

They may be found in forests, chaparral, scrubland, and agricultural land, with only rocky terrain, arid deserts, and big rivers separating them. They can be found up to 4,200 meters.

#29 Camas Pocket Gopher

The camas pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys bulbivorus, and commonly known as the Willamette Valley gopher or camas rat, is the biggest member of its genus by a slight margin.

The fur is a drab brown on the outside and a dark, leaden gray on the inside. It features blackish ear and nose patterns and patches of white on the chin, neck, and around the anus.

The external ear is a tissue rim that has thickened. The gopher’s coat is short and coarse in the summer, but furrier and longer in the winter.

The young have a coat that is comparable to an adult’s summer coat, but with more sparsely scattered fur and exposed belly flesh.

It has tiny eyes and ears, like do other gophers, and a virtually hairless tail. It has shoulders that are wider than hips. It has five claws on each foot and is pentadactyl.

Its forefeet have longer claws than its rear feet, with the middle claws being the longest.

The camas pocket gopher’s front claws are small and feeble in comparison to its size. Plantigrade locomotion is used.

The male is bigger than the female, with an average length of 30 cm. A big male can weigh up to 500 grams.

#30 Idaho Pocket Gopher

Known scientifically as Thomomys idahoensis, the Idaho pocket gopher is a species of rodent belonging to the Geomyidae family.

It is only found in the Northwestern United States regions, namely in Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming, and is unique to that region.

Temperate woods, arid savanna, and temperate grassland are among of the species’ native habitats.

#31 Mazama Pocket Gopher

The Mazama pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys mazama, is a smooth-toothed pocket gopher that can only be found in the Pacific Northwest. Coastal Washington, Oregon, and north-central California are all home to this species.

Mazama pocket gophers are light brown to black in appearance and grow to be 5 to 6 inches long as adults. With its large claws and muscular limbs, the species excels at digging burrows despite its limited vision.

Food and nesting materials are transported by gophers via fur pouches on their bodies.

Plant material, mostly foliage, roots, and tubers, make up the gopher’s diet.

During the breeding season, these gophers are solitary creatures.

Polygamy is the norm within the species when it comes to mating. The Mazama pocket gopher is an essential member of the prairie ecosystem.

Every year, one gopher may turn over 3-7 tons of dirt per acre, thereby benefiting the growth of plants. Additionally, frogs, toads, small animals, and reptiles use gopher holes, tunnels, and burrows as shelter.

#32 Mountain Pocket Gopher

The mountain pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys monticola, is a tiny species of rodent found in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California and may be found in meadows and rocky slopes of forests, where it can be seen foraging for food.

The mountain pocket gophers tend to live lonely lives in vast subterranean tunnels that are a mile long or more. It is most common for them to consume roots, tubers, and certain plants that grow above ground.

#33 Northern Pocket Gopher

The northern pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys talpoides, is a tiny gopher species found in western North America as well as Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Manitoba in Canada.

Northern gophers are usually a deep brown or yellowish-brown hue, although they can sometimes be grey or resemble local soil color, and they have white marks beneath their chin. They are also under 110 grams in weight.

Their preferred habitat is excellent soil in meadows or near streams, which may be found in both highlands and lowlands.

Northern pocket gophers seldom travel above ground, and when they do, they stay within 75 cm of a burrow opening. However, they frequently dwell, store food, and breed below in tunnels that reach hundreds of feet.

#34 Southern Pocket Gopher

The southern pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys umbrinus, feeds on plant material found both above and below ground and has a huge burrow atop a vast heap of dirt.

Adults are typically 200-250 mm long, with females being smaller than males. Cinnamon-brown upper parts fade to yellowish-buff flanks The head has black-tipped hairs, the ears are black, and there is a black patch behind the ear.

The cheeks and throat are white, while the underparts are buff. Except for the white tip, the tail is brown on top and yellowish-buff on the bottom.

Native to Mexico and the far southwest of the United States, their habitat range spans from Mexico’s Puebla and Veracruz to Arizona and New Mexico in the United States.

The lower altitude desert grassland and woodlands, as well as the high altitude grassland and shrubland, constitute the perfect habitat for the southern pocket gopher.

Its existence may be detected by the mounds of earth it excavates when burrowing. The southern pocket gopher does not hibernate and is active all year.

#35 Townsend’s Pocket Gopher

The Townsend’s pocket gopher is a big gopher 25 cm long, with a tail around 7 cm long. Adults weigh 200-375 g, with males being bigger than females.

Small eyes, ears, and short legs distinguish them from other pocket gophers. With strong digging claws on the forefeet, stout, flat-soled hindfeet. Each cheek has a fur-lined pouch. A female Townsend’s pocket gopher has eight teats.

The underparts have a deeper tan than the rest of the body. Some individuals have white markings on the head and a white patch on the chin.

The tail has practically no hair. Melanistic varieties are almost completely black with white patches on the chin or foot.

Dispersed populations occur in southern Idaho, northern Nevada, southeastern Oregon, and northeastern California. They live in deep, wet soils near rivers and lakes, sometimes as high as 1950 m, but often in valley bottoms.

They are also common in irrigated farmland. Lack of saltgrass or competition with Botta’s pocket gopher may limit their range growth.

In addition to saltgrass, the Townsend pocket gopher consumes alfalfa and other big rooted plants, including agricultural products such as potatoes.

Barn owls are common predators, and the gopher is the chewing louse’s principal host.

#36 Wyoming Pocket Gopher

The Wyoming pocket gopher, scientifically known as Thomomys clusius, is the smallest species of the genus Thomomys, measuring around 17 cm in total length, including a tail that is approximately 6 cm in length.

Adults range in weight from 45 to 70 grams. The hair is a pale yellowish-grey color throughout the top portions of the body and the majority of the head, and it is white on the underparts, foot, and tail of the animal.

The hue of the nose is quite close to black. A few characteristics separate it from the closely related northern pocket gopher, including the absence of black spots on its ears and the fact that it is smaller in size.

It is similar to other gophers in that it has powerful front limbs with digging claws, as well as tiny ears and eyes, among other characteristics.

Despite their size, the fur-lined cheek pouches of the wolf are rather big, spanning around 4.5 cm back from the nose.

Wyoming pocket gophers may be found in a relatively small region in southern Wyoming, in eastern Sweetwater County and southwestern Carbon County, where they can be found in small numbers.

It prefers places that are generally level and well-drained.

Gopher Species in the Genus Zygogeomys

#37 Michoacan Pocket Gopher

The Michoacan pocket gopher, scientifically known as Zygogeomys trichopus, belongs to the Geomyidae family of rodents, within the genus Zygogeomys, where it is monotypic.

It is only found in Mexico, where it thrives in temperate, high-altitude woods.

The Michoacan pocket gopher is a tiny mammal with a hairless tail and short, thick, black, glossy fur. The eyes are tiny and deep-set, and directly below the nose is a pad-like area of exposed skin.

When caught, it is gentle and does not seek to bite, as do other pocket gophers.

The Michoacan pocket gopher is only found in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt mountain range in central-southern Mexico, where it can be found in four distinct sites around Lake Pátzcuaro at elevations of above 2,200 meters.

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