Geomys texensis Merriam 1895
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
Geomys
Geomys texensis

description: 22.
Llano Pocket Gopher
Geomys texensis
French: Gaufre de Llano / German: Llano-Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza de Llano
Other common names: Central Texas Pocket Gopher
Taxonomy. Geomys texensis Merriam, 1895,
“Mason, Mason County, Texas,” USA.
Molecular studies show G. texensis to be sister to G. bursarius. Three subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
G.t.texensisMerriam,1895—CTexas(Mason,McCulloch,andSanSabacounties),USA.
G.t. bakeriSmolen,Pitts&Bickham,1993—SCTexas(Medina,Uvalde,andZavala counties),USA.
G. t. llanensis Block & Zimmerman, 1991 — C Texas (Gillespie, Kimble, and Llano counties), USA.
Descriptive notes. Head-body 120-210 mm, tail 50-80 mm; weight 125-215 g (males) and 105-165 g (females). The Llano Pocket Gopher is small for genus. There is no significant sexual dimorphism in body size in bakeri, but males are usually larger than females in the other two subspecies. The Llano Pocket Gopher has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers and possesses fur-lined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Pelage is pale, buffy brown to liverbrown dorsally and lighter, occasionally white, ventrally. Feet are usually white. Anterior surface of each upper incisor has a large medial groove flanked by a smaller groove located along the inner margin of the tooth. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 70 and FN = 68.
Habitat. Well-drained sandy or gravelly loams supporting plant communities dominated by mesquite (Prosopis sp., Fabaceae), blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima, Rosaceae), Ashe juniper (Junipreus ashei, Cupressaceae), desert hackberry (Celtis pallid, Cannabaceae), and other xeric-adapted species.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Llano 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 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. Little is known about breeding habits of the Llano Pocket Gopher, but it appears to breed throughout the year, with major peaks in February-March and July-August. Each female produces 1-2 litters/year, and litters have 1-3 young. Young are weaned in ¢.30 days and reach reproductive maturity in 4-6 months.
Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Llano Pocket Gopheris probably active at any hour of the day, with periods of peak activity around dawn and dusk. It does not hibernate and is active year-round.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available forthis species, but the Llano 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.
Bibliography. Cameron (1999), Chambers et al. (2009), Cramer & Cameron (2001), Hafner & NatureServe (Hammerson & Cannings) (2008), Patton (2005b), Sudman et al. (20086).
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 244, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6603807