The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah: University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History, Vol. 1 No. 1 — John Shaqi
The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah: University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History, Vol. 1 No. 1Durrant, Stephen David
Science
The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah: University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History, Vol. 1 No. 1
Durrant, Stephen David
Pocket gophers -- Utah
_Comparisons._--This small pocket gopher can be distinguished from all
other members of _Thomomys talpoides_ occurring in Utah by remarkably
small size, and slender, weak, small skull with strongly recurved upper
incisors.
_Remarks._--The specimens used in this study were those recorded by
Svihla (1931:261). She reports that they were obtained in the
flood-plain banks of the streamsides, and preferred the pine belt. This
shows probably an extension of range with reference to life zones, as
heretofore the main reported localities of capture have been in
sagebrush in the Transition Life-zone.
Insofar as I am aware, Mrs. Svihla's specimens are the only ones of
this subspecies ever obtained in Utah. Additional work is necessary in
southwestern Wyoming to outline accurately the geographic distribution
of this subspecies. In comparison with topotypes, the specimens from
Utah are lighter in color and some specimens have slightly larger
skulls, suggesting slight intergradation with _Thomomys talpoides
uinta_.
_Specimens examined._--Total, 18 (all in Museum of Zooelogy,
University of Michigan), distributed as follows: _Daggett
County_: Sheep Creek, 4; 1 mi. W Summit Springs, 4; Beaver
Creek, 22 mi. S Manila, 9; Granite Park, 24 mi. S Manila, 1.
=Thomomys talpoides ravus= new subspecies
_Type._--Male, adult, skin and skull, No. 13690, Carnegie Museum;
Vernal-Manila Highway, 19 mi. N Vernal, 8,000 ft., Uintah County, Utah;
August 22, 1937; collected by J. K. and M. T. Doutt; original number
4718.
_Range._--Uinta Mountains in Daggett, northern Uintah and northern
Summit counties.
_Diagnosis._--Size large (see measurements); ears relatively narrow;
hind foot relatively small. Color: Upper parts between Drab and Light
Drab, darkest along middorsal line due to mixture of hairs tipped with
light brown; sides and flanks Light Drab; entire underparts creamy
white; front and hind feet, ventral surface of tail and end of tail
white; proximal two-thirds of tail covered dorsally with light brown
hairs; nose and cheeks dusky; postauricular patches black. Skull:
Large, heavy and ridged; rostrum long and narrow; nasals long,
moderately dilated distally and with a distal hump; posterior ends of
nasals emarginate; parietal and lambdoidal crests well developed;
zygomatic arches moderately heavy and widely spreading, widest
posteriorly; zygomatic processes of maxillae moderately heavy and
flaring abruptly from base of rostrum; marked middorsal depression in
frontals present; interparietal pentagonal; extension of premaxillae
posterior to nasals long; posterior tongues of premaxillae long,
slender and rounded proximally; braincase high, vaulted and relatively
narrow; tympanic bullae well inflated ventrally, and ridged in old
animals; pterygoid hamulae long; interpterygoid space narrowly
V-shaped; upper incisors long and narrow; molariform teeth medium.
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