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
Specimens from Bedrock have zygomatic arches that are heavy anteriorly.
Specimens from Coventry are dorsally almost uniformly Strong Brown
(7.5YR 5/6) and lack a strong dorsal stripe. The venters are Reddish
Yellow (7.5YR 8/6). Specimens from 15 miles west of Cortez are the
palest specimens of _T. b. aureus_ from Colorado, and closely resemble
topotypes. The basic color varies from Reddish Yellow (7.5YR 7/6 and
6/6) to Strong Brown (7.5YR 5/6). Specimens are marked with a narrow
dark dorsal stripe. The venters are white. Specimens from Ute Peak and
Cortez have Reddish Yellow (7.5YR 6/6) flanks and are slightly darker
dorsally. Many specimens from Mesa Verde are indistinguishable from
specimens from Coventry and from Cortez. Others have dark diffuse dorsal
stripes. The venters are Pink (7.5YR 7/4) or Pinkish White (7.5YR 8/2).
Some specimens from the Mancos River have wide dorsal stripes. Specimens
from three miles west of Durango have especially wide-spreading
zygomatic arches posteriorly and have wide black dorsal stripes. The
venters are Pink (7.5YR 7/4). One specimen from Florida is dark and
grizzled and has a dark dorsal stripe. Another specimen is pale and has
only a small dorsal stripe. Specimens from 12 miles west of Pagosa
Springs have thin rostra and diffuse dorsal stripes. Specimens from
Bondad have a V-shaped interpterygoid space and in it a small median
spicule. One specimen is uniformly grizzled and lacks a dorsal stripe,
giving an overall effect of Dark Yellowish Brown (10YR 3/3). Another
specimen has Strong Brown (7.5YR 5/6) flanks and is only slightly darker
dorsally.
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