Tropical pocket gopher
| Tropical pocket gopher | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Geomyidae |
| Genus: | Geomys |
| Species: | G. tropicalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Geomys tropicalis Goldman, 1915 | |
The tropical pocket gopher (Geomys tropicalis) is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to Mexico. Its natural habitat is hot deserts. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Description
The tropical pocket gopher is cinnamon to brown on its back and head. Its underparts have white fur, and its tail is mostly naked. They have large front feet, along with small eyes and a thick body.[2] Males are on average larger than females.[3]
Distribution and habitat
The distribution of the tropical pocket gopher is restricted to a small area near the Southeastern tip of Tamaulipas, Mexico.[4]
Genetics
The tropical pocket gopher has a diploid number of 38. This is low compared to similar species. This could help them adapt to their restricted habitat. Since their numbers are low there is a high risk of them losing too much genetic variability to survive.[5]
References
- ↑ Álvarez-Castañeda, S.T., Castro-Arellano, I., Lacher, T. & Vázquez, E. (2008). Geomys tropicalis. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 29 January 2009. Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of critically endangered
- ↑ Goldman, E.A. 1915. Five new mammals from Mexico and Arizona. Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 28:133-137.
- ↑ Alvarez, T. 1963. The recent mammals of Tamaulipas, Mexico. Univ. Kansas Publ. Mus. Nat. His. 14:363-473.
- ↑ Field parties from Texas Tech. University
- ↑ Davis et al. 1971. Chromosomal studies of Geomys. Jour. Mammal.52:617-620.