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
_Remarks._--_T. b. aureiventris_ has one of the most extensive ranges
of any race of _T. bottae_ occurring in Utah. The range extends from
the valleys of the northwest corner of the state south along the
extreme western margin of the state approximately to the southern end
of the Deep Creek Mountains. This ascribed range practically bounds the
northwest and western margins of the great salt desert in Box Elder and
Tooele counties. As far as known, this great waste area harbors no
members of the Geomyidae. Pocket gophers were available from four
localities in addition to the type locality. In these four localities
all of the animals were intergrades. The three specimens from Queen of
Sheba Canyon, Deep Creek Mountains, although smaller than
_aureiventris_ in every measurement taken, resemble it in color and
general configuration of the skull. The animals from Trout Creek and
Ibapah at the southern end of the range, although referred to
_aureiventris_, are intermediate between it and _centralis_. In color
and measurements they more closely resemble _centralis_, but the skulls
closely resemble those of _aureiventris_. The skulls show some slight
characteristics of _bonnevillei_, the form to the east, which indicate
an early relationship between the two. Specimens from the east side of
Tecoma Range, adjacent to Pilot Peak, although referred to
_aureiventris_ are intergrades between it and _centralis_. Although
this locality is nearer the type locality of _aureiventris_ than any of
the other record stations, the animals show the maximum departure from
topotypes in morphological features. In color they approach
_centralis_, and agree with it in one-half of the measured characters.
The general configuration of the skull and a majority of the critical
diagnostic characters, for example, jugal thickening, are more nearly
as in _aureiventris_. From the above remarks it is readily understood
that this subspecies is extremely variable.
_Specimens examined._--Total, 55, distributed as follows:
_Box Elder County_: Fehlman Ranch, 3 mi. N Kelton, 4,255
ft., 8 (7, M. V. Z.); Utah-Nevada Boundary, E Side Tecoma
Range, 4,300 ft., 12. _Tooele County_: Ibapah, 5,000 ft.,
21. _Juab County_: Queen of Sheba Canyon, W side Deep Creek
Mountains, 5,600 ft., 11.
=Thomomys bottae robustus= new subspecies
_Type._--Male, adult, skin and skull, No. 2726, Museum of Zooelogy,
University of Utah; Orr's Ranch, Skull Valley, 4,300 ft., Tooele
County, Utah; June 19, 1938; collected by S. D. Durrant; original
number 1583.
_Range._--Skull Valley, Tooele County, Utah.
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