Geographic Variation in the Pocket Gopher, Thomomys bottae, in Colorado — John Shaqi
Geographic Variation in the Pocket Gopher, Thomomys bottae, in ColoradoYoungman, Phillip M.
Science
Geographic Variation in the Pocket Gopher, Thomomys bottae, in Colorado
Youngman, Phillip M.
Pocket gophers
Adults of approximately equal age were compared in the study of
geographic variation. Three criteria of adulthood are: (a) suture
obliterated between supraoccipital and exoccipital, (b) suture at least
partly obliterated between basisphenoid and basioccipital, (c)
supraorbital crests not widely separated and almost parallel. In males
the crests encroach on the lateral borders of the interparietal; in
females the crests approach the lateral borders of the interparietal but
are more widely separated than in males.
[Illustration: Fig. 1. Geographic distribution of _Thomomys bottae_ in
southwestern Colorado.
1. _T. b. howelli_
2. _T. b. aureus_
3. _T. b. pervagus_
4. _T. b. cultellus_
5. _T. b. internatus_
6. _T. b. rubidus_]
In studying geographic variation, greater emphasis was placed on females
than on males. As noted by Grinnell (1931:4), males vary more than
females, especially in length of rostrum and associated nasal
measurements.
Color terms are those of Munsell (1954). Color measurements were
standardized by the use of a single 100 watt General Electric blue
daylight bulb in a 12 inch white reflector suspended 24 inches above the
specimen. All other light was excluded. The individual hairs of
_Thomomys bottae_ are either bicolored or tricolored. The darkness of a
specimen often may be attributed to the presence of dark-tipped hairs.
The color given in the description is the basic reddish or yellowish
color of the hairs. The presence of a grizzled effect or a dark dorsal
stripe, or any other pattern resulting from dark hairs, is noted in the
remarks.
Specimens examined are listed by counties in the following order:
Mesa
Montrose
San Miguel
Dolores
Montezuma
La Plata
Archuleta
Conejos
Chaffee
Fremont
El Paso
Pueblo
Custer
Huerfano
Alamosa
Las Animas
Localities are listed from north to south within a county. If two
localities lie on the same line of latitude, the western precedes the
eastern. Localities omitted on the map in order to prevent overlapping
of symbols are in Italics. Unless otherwise indicated, specimens are in
the University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History. The following
initials are used to designate specimens in other collections:
CSU--Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
CMNH--Colorado Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado.
ERW--E. R. Warren Collection, Colorado College, Colorado Springs,
Colorado.
USNM--United States National Museum, Washington, D. C.
The following measurements of the skull are listed in the tables:
_Condylobasal length._--The shortest distance between the anteriormost
projections of the premaxillaries and a line touching the posterior
surfaces of the exoccipital condyles.
_Length of nasals._--The distance from the most anterior projection of
the nasal bones to the most posterior projection of a nasal bone.
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