Pocket gophers, commonly referred to simply as gophers, are burrowing

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are roden ...

s of the family Geomyidae. The roughly 41 speciesSearch results for "Geomyidae" on th
ASM Mammal Diversity Database
are all

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to North and Central America. They are commonly known for their extensive tunneling activities and their ability to destroy farms and gardens. The name "pocket gopher" on its own may refer to any of a number of

genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial ...

within the

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

Geomyidae. These are the "true" gophers, but several

ground squirrel Ground squirrels are members of the squirrel family of rodents (Sciuridae), which generally live on or in the ground, rather than trees. The term is most often used for the medium-sized ground squirrels, as the larger ones are more commonly known ...

s in the distantly related family

Sciuridae Squirrels are members of the family Sciuridae, a family that includes small or medium-size rodents. The squirrel family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels (including chipmunks and prairie dogs, among others), and flying squirrels. ...

are often called "gophers", as well. The origin of the word "gopher" is uncertain; the French ''gaufre'', meaning

waffle A waffle is a dish made from leavened batter or dough that is cooked between two plates that are patterned to give a characteristic size, shape, and surface impression. There are many variations based on the type of waffle iron and recipe use ...

, has been suggested, on account of the gopher tunnels resembling the

honeycomb A honeycomb is a mass of hexagonal prismatic wax cells built by honey bees in their nests to contain their larvae and stores of honey and pollen. Beekeepers may remove the entire honeycomb to harvest honey. Honey bees consume about of honey t ...

-like pattern of holes in a waffle; another suggestion is that the word is of

Muskogean Muskogean (also Muskhogean, Muskogee) is a Native American language family spoken in different areas of the Southeastern United States. Though the debate concerning their interrelationships is ongoing, the Muskogean languages are generally div ...

origin.

Description

Gophers weigh around , and are about in body length, with a tail long. A few species reach weights approaching . Within any species, the males are larger than the females, and can be nearly double their weight. Average lifespans are one to three years. The maximum lifespan for the pocket gopher is about five years. Some gophers, such as those in the

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...

'' Geomys'', have lifespans that have been documented as up to seven years in the wild. Most gophers have brown fur that often closely matches the color of the

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life. Some scientific definitions distinguish ''dirt'' from ''soil'' by restricting the former ...

in which they live. Their most characteristic features are their large

cheek The cheeks ( la, buccae) constitute the area of the face below the eyes and between the nose and the left or right ear. "Buccal" means relating to the cheek. In humans, the region is innervated by the buccal nerve. The area between the insi ...

pouches, from which the word "pocket" in their name derives. These pouches are fur-lined, can be turned inside out, and extend from the side of the mouth well back onto the shoulders. Gophers have small eyes and a short, hairy tail, which they use to feel around tunnels when they walk backwards. Pocket gophers have often been found to carry external parasites. Common predators of the gopher include

weasel Weasels are mammals of the genus ''Mustela'' of the family Mustelidae. The genus ''Mustela'' includes the least weasels, polecats, stoats, ferrets and European mink. Members of this genus are small, active predators, with long and slender ...

snake Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...

s, and

hawk Hawks are birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are widely distributed and are found on all continents except Antarctica. * The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks and others. This subfa ...

Behavior

All pocket gophers create a network of

tunnel A tunnel is an underground passageway, dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, and enclosed except for the entrance and exit, commonly at each end. A pipeline is not a tunnel, though some recent tunnels have used immersed tube cons ...

systems that provide protection and a means of collecting food. They are larder hoarders, and their cheek pouches are used for transporting food back to their burrows. Gophers can collect large hoards. Unlike

s, gophers do not live in large communities and seldom find themselves above ground. Tunnel entrances can be identified by small piles of loose soil covering the opening. Burrows are in many areas where the soil is softer and easily tunneled. Gophers often visit vegetable gardens, lawns, or farms, as they like moist soil (see Soil biomantle). This has led to their frequent treatment as

pests PESTS was an anonymous American activist group formed in 1986 to critique racism, tokenism, and exclusion in the art world. PESTS produced newsletters, posters, and other print material highlighting examples of discrimination in gallery represent ...

. Gophers eat plant roots, shrubs, and other vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, radishes, and any other vegetables with juice. Some species are considered agricultural pests. The resulting destruction of plant life then leaves the area a stretch of denuded soil. At the same time, the soil disturbance created by turning it over can lead to the early establishment of ecological succession in communities of r-selected and other ruderal plant species. The stashing and subsequent decomposition of plant material in the gophers' larder can produce deep fertilization of the soil. Pocket gophers are

solitary Solitary is the state of being alone or in solitude. The term may refer to: * shortened form of solitary confinement * Solitary animal, an animal that does not live with others in its species * Solitary but social, a type of social organizatio ...

outside of the

breeding season Seasonal breeders are animal species that successfully mate only during certain times of the year. These times of year allow for the optimization of survival of young due to factors such as ambient temperature, food and water availability, and ch ...

, aggressively maintaining territories that vary in size depending on the resources available. Males and females may share some burrows and nesting chambers if their territories border each other, but in general, each pocket gopher inhabits its own individual tunnel system. Although they attempt to flee when threatened, they may attack other animals, including

cat The cat (''Felis catus'') is a domestic species of small carnivorous mammal. It is the only domesticated species in the family Felidae and is commonly referred to as the domestic cat or house cat to distinguish it from the wild members of ...

s and humans, and can inflict serious bites with their long, sharp teeth. Depending on the species and local conditions, pocket gophers may have a specific annual breeding season, or may breed repeatedly through the year. Each litter typically consists of two to five young, although this may be much higher in some species. The young are born blind and helpless and are

weaned Weaning is the process of gradually introducing an infant human or another mammal to what will be its adult diet while withdrawing the supply of its mother's milk. The process takes place only in mammals, as only mammals produce milk. The infa ...

when around 40 days old.

Control

''Geomys'' and ''Thomomys'' species are classed as "prohibited new organisms" under New Zealand's

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996 The Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act (HSNO) is an Act of Parliament passed in New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Isla ...

, preventing them from being imported into the country.

Classification

Much debate exists among taxonomists about which races of pocket gophers should be recognized as full species, and the following list cannot be regarded as definitive. * Family Geomyidae ** Genus '' Cratogeomys''; some authors treat this genus as a subgenus of '' Pappogeomys''. *** Yellow-faced pocket gopher (''Cratogeomys castanops'') *** Oriental Basin pocket gopher (''C. fulvescens'') *** Smoky pocket gopher (''C. fumosus'') *** Goldman's pocket gopher (''C. goldmani'') *** Merriam's pocket gopher (''C. merriami'') *** Perote pocket gopher (''C. perotensis'') *** Volcan de Toluca Pocket Gopher (''C. planiceps)'' ** Genus '' Geomys'' – eastern pocket gophers; principally live in the southwestern United States, east of the

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada () is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...

mountains *** Desert pocket gopher (''Geomys arenarius'') *** Attwater's pocket gopher (''G. attwateri'') *** Baird's pocket gopher (''G. breviceps'') *** Plains pocket gopher (''G. bursarius'') ***

Hall's Pocket Gopher Geo. Hall & Sons, more recently known as Hall's, was a soft drink manufacturer founded in 1849 in Marryatville, South Australia (a suburb of Adelaide) by English immigrant George Hall (1818-1881). The plant later moved to Norwood, using water fr ...

(''G. jugossicularis)'' *** Knox Jones's pocket gopher (''G. knoxjonesi'') ***

Sand Hills Pocket Gopher Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of s ...

(''G. lutescens)'' ***

Texas pocket gopher The Texas pocket gopher (''Geomys personatus'') is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is found in Tamaulipas in Mexico and in Texas in the United States. Description Males grow to a length of about including a tail of about . Fem ...

(''G. personatus'') *** Southeastern pocket gopher (''G. pinetis'') *** Strecker's Pocket Gopher (''G. streckeri)'' *** Central Texas pocket gopher (''G. texensis'') *** Tropical pocket gopher (''G. tropicalis'') ** Genus '' Heterogeomys'' – giant pocket gophers or taltuzas; live in Mexico, Central America, and Colombia; some authors treat this genus as a subgenus of '' Orthogeomys''. *** Chiriqui pocket gopher (''Heterogeomys cavator'') *** Cherrie's pocket gopher (''H. cherriei'') ***

Darien pocket gopher The Darien pocket gopher (''Heterogeomys dariensis'') is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is occurs in Panama and Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular ...

(''H. dariensis'') *** Variable pocket gopher (''H. heterodus'') *** Hispid pocket gopher (''H. hispidus'') ***

Big pocket gopher The big pocket gopher (''Heterogeomys lanius'') 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 . Some aut ...

(''H. lanius'') *** Underwood's pocket gopher (''H. underwoodi'') ** Genus '' Orthogeomys''; live in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico; ***

Giant pocket gopher The giant pocket gopher (''Orthogeomys grandis'') 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 th ...

(''O. grandis'') ** Genus '' Pappogeomys''; live in Mexico ***

Buller's pocket gopher Buller's pocket gopher (''Pappogeomys bulleri'') is a species of gopher that is endemic to Mexico. It is monotypic within the genus ''Pappogeomys''. It includes the Alcorn's pocket gopher Alcorn's pocket gopher (''Pappogeomys bulleri alcorni'' ...

(''P. bulleri'') ** Genus '' Thomomys'' – western pocket gophers; widely distributed in North America, extending into the northwestern US, Canada, and the southeastern US. *** Black-and-Brown Pocket Gopher (''T. atrovarius)'' ***

Botta's pocket gopher Botta's pocket gopher (''Thomomys bottae'') is a pocket gopher native to western North America. It is also known in some sources as valley pocket gopher, particularly in California. Both the specific and common names of this species honor Paul-É ...

(''T. bottae'') *** Camas pocket gopher (''T. bulbivorus'') ***

Wyoming pocket gopher The Wyoming pocket gopher (''Thomomys clusius'') is a species of gopher that is endemic to the United States. Between 1915 and 1979, it was generally considered to be a subspecies of the northern pocket gopher. Description The Wyoming pocket go ...

(''T. clusius'') *** Idaho pocket gopher (''T. idahoensis'') *** Mazama pocket gopher (''T. mazama'') ***

Mountain pocket gopher The mountain pocket gopher (''Thomomys monticola'') is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to California and Nevada. The Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada () is a mountain range in the Western United States, betwee ...

(''T. monticola'') ***

Nayar Pocket Gopher Nayar or Nayyar may refer to: Groups of people * Nair, a group of Hindu castes from the Southern Indian state of Kerala * Velakkathala Nayar, a caste found in Kerala state, India * A clan within the Khatri * Nayar (name), including Nayyar Other ...

(''T. nayarensis)'' ***

Sierra Madre Occidental Pocket Gopher Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and "saw", from Latin ''serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range ...

(''T. sheldoni)'' *** Northern pocket gopher (''T. talpoides'') *** Townsend's pocket gopher (''T. townsendii'') *** Southern pocket gopher (''T. umbrinus'') ** Genus '' Zygogeomys'' ***

Michoacan pocket gopher The Michoacan pocket gopher (''Zygogeomys trichopus'') 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 nu ...

(''Zygogeomys trichopus'') Some sources also list a genus '' Hypogeomys'', with one species, but this genus name is normally used for the Malagasy giant rat, which belongs to the family

Nesomyidae The Nesomyidae are a family of African rodents in the large and complex superfamily Muroidea. It includes several subfamilies, all of which are native to either continental Africa or to Madagascar. Included in this family are Malagasy rodents, ...

In popular culture

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the List of U.S. states and territories by population, 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minne ...

is nicknamed the "Gopher State", and the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, formally the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, (UMN Twin Cities, the U of M, or Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Tw ...

's athletics teams are collectively known as the Golden Gophers, led by mascot Goldy Gopher. * Internet Gopher protocol was created at the

. * Gainer the Gopher is the

mascot A mascot is any human, animal, or object thought to bring luck, or anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name. Mascots are also used as fic ...

of the

Saskatchewan Roughriders The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a professional Canadian football team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. The Roughriders compete in the Canadian Football League (CFL) as a member club of the league's West Division. The Roughriders were founded i ...

in the Canadian Football League. * A gopher puppet is featured prominently in the film '' Caddyshack'' and

the sequel ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

. * The mascot of the

Go programming language Go is a statically typed, compiled programming language designed at Google by Robert Griesemer, Rob Pike, and Ken Thompson. It is syntactically similar to C, but with memory safety, garbage collection, structural typing, and CSP-style conc ...

is the Go Gopher. * Gordon the Gopher is an English puppet gopher that appeared on

Children's BBC BBC Children's and Education is the BBC division responsible for media content for children in the UK. Since the launch of specially dedicated television channels in 2002, the services have been marketed under two brands. CBBC (short for Chil ...

between 1985 and 1987. *

Gopher Pocket gophers, commonly referred to simply as gophers, are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. The roughly 41 speciesSearch results for "Geomyidae" on thASM Mammal Diversity Database are all endemic to North and Central America. They ar ...

is a character in the Disney cartoon adaptations of the children's book '' Winnie-the-Pooh''. * Mexican Liga MX club C. F. Pachuca is officially nicknamed ''Los Tuzos'' as tuza is Spanish for gopher which is also the team's mascot

References

External links

Article on the Animal Diversity Web site
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gopher Mammals of North America Rodents of Central America Mammals of Canada Mammals of Mexico Mammals of the United States Agricultural pests Fauna of the Western United States Fauna of the California chaparral and woodlands Rodents by common name Extant Eocene first appearances Taxa named by Charles Lucien Bonaparte