Their large yellowish incisor teeth are always exposed in front of the mouth opening.
Front claws are large and curved forming efficient digging tools.
The naked or scantily haired tail is always shorter than the head and body. Eyes and ears are small. Habits Presence of pocket gophers is easily detected by mounds of earth pushed out during excavation of subterranean tunnels. These mounds are fan shaped with the position of the opening indicated by a round earth plug, the last dirt pushed to the surface. Pocket gophers never leave burrows open for long.