Thomomys idahoensis Merriam 1901
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
Thomomys
Thomomys idahoensis

description: 3.
Idaho Pocket Gopher
Thomomys idahoensis
French: Gaufre d’'ldaho / German: |daho-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Idaho
Other common names: Bitterroot Valley Pocket Gopher, Hamilton Pocket Gopher (confinus), Pygmy Pocket Gopher (pygmaeus)
Taxonomy. Thomomys idahoensis Merriam, 1901,
“Birch Creek, Idaho.” Restricted by J. L. Patton in 2005 to “USA, Idaho, Clark Co., Birch Creek (10 mi [16 km] S Nicholia [Lemhi Co.], about 6,400 ft. [1940 m]).”
Placed into subgenus Thomomys. Originally regarded as a subspecies of T. talpoides. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
1. 1. idahoensis Merriam, 1901 — extreme E Idaho and adjacent parts of Montana, USA
.
T.i.confinusDavis,1937—WMontana,USA.
T. i. pygmaeus Merriam, 1901 — SW Wyoming and adjacent parts of SE Idaho and N Utah, USA.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 120-150 mm, tail 40-70 mm, ear 5-6 mm, hindfoot 21-22 mm; weight 45-90 g. Female Idaho Pocket Gophers are slightly larger than males. This very small pocket gopher has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers, and it possesses furlined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Idaho and Montana populations are pale yellow dorsally, but Wyoming populations are usually dark brown. The Idaho Pocket Gopherlacks the dark, post-auricular patch and gray-colored cheeks seen in nearby pocket gophers of other species. The Idaho Pocket Gopher has a 2n = 56 or 58 karyotype, which can be used to distinguish it from all other pocket gopher within its distribution.
Habitat. Arid sagebrush (Artemisia, Asteraceae) habitats, grasslands, and subalpine meadows. The Idaho Pocket Gopher appears to prefer habitats with relatively shallow and rocky soils, and when sympatric with the Northern Pocket Gopher (7. talpoides), the latter species is found in areas with deeper and less rocky soils.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but all pocket gophers that have been studied eat predominately underground roots and tubers and a limited amount of surface vegetation. 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 chambersfor storage of food or fecal pellets. Surface feeding activity in the immediate vicinity of the borrow entrance has been reported for the Idaho Pocket Gopher.
Breeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but its breeding habits are probably similar to those of other species in this genus, which mate in spring and have 1-7 young/litter.
Activity patterns. The Idaho Pocket Gopher does not hibernate and is active yearround. In winter,it digs tunnels in snow, where it deposits excess soil. When snow melts in spring, these rope-like tubes ofsoil settle to the ground,leaving evidence of an individual's winter activities. As in all species of pocket gophers, Idaho Pocket Gophers can be active at any hour of the day, with periods of peak activity at dawn and dusk.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available forthis species, but the Idaho Pocket Gopheris solitary and aggressively territorial. Because it rarely leavesits burrow system, its home range is defined by size and extent of its burrow system.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List. The Idaho Pocket Gopher may be vulnerable because ofits limited distribution.
Bibliography. Clark & Stromberg (1987), Linzey & NatureServe (Hammerson) (2008r), MTNHP (2015), Patton (1999d, 2005b), Thaeler (1972).
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 page 237, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6603807