Heterogeomys underwoodi Osgood 1931
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Geomyidae
Heterogeomys
Heterogeomys underwoodi

description: 33.
Underwood’s Pocket Gopher
Heterogeomys underwoodi
French: Gaufre d'Underwood / German: Underwood-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Underwood
Taxonomy. Heterogeomys underwoodi Osgood, 1931,
“Alto de Jabillo Pirris, between San Geronimo and Pozo Azul, western Costa Rica.”
Placed into subgenus Macrogeomys. Heterogeomys considered a subgenus of Orthogeomys by J. L. Patton in 2005 but was resurrected to genus status by T. A. Spradling and colleagues in 2016. Molecular studies suggest that H. underwood: is sister to a clade composed of H. cherriet and H. heterodus. Monotypic.
Distribution. Pacific coast of Costa Rica and adjacent SW Panama (Chiriqui).
Descriptive notes. Head—body 180-210 mm, tail 85-105 mm; weight 230-330 g. Male Underwood’s Pocket Gophers are usually larger than females. Dorsal pelage is short and dark brown to almost black; ventral pelage is lighter in color. Nearly all individuals have a white belt (14-52 mm wide) surrounding lumbar region of body; only a few individuals are known that lack this belt. Underwood’s Pocket Gopher has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers, and it possesses fur-lined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Anterior surface of each upper incisor has a single medial groove. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 44 and FN = 78.
Habitat. Well-drained soils in tropical semideciduous forests, forest clearings, pasturelands, and cultivated fields. Elevational range is from near sea level to ¢.1500 m.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but Underwood’s Pocket Gopher probably feeds on roots, tubers, stems, and leaves of most plants available within the vicinity of its burrow system. It readily invades cultivated fields and pasturelands and is considered an agricultural pest wherever it occurs 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. Pregnant Underwood’s Pocket Gophers have been captured in April.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but Underwood’s Pocket Gopheris probably active at any hour of the day. 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 Underwood’s 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 List (as Orthogeomys underwood).
Bibliography. Hafner & Hafner (1987), McCarthy & Reid (2008), Patton (2005b), Spradling et al. (2016), Sudman & Hafner (1992).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Geomyidae, pp. 234-269 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 249-250, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6603807