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
The specimens from Settlement Canyon, Oquirrh Mountains, Tooele County,
show the same characteristics as those from Bauer.
In a large series of animals from St. John, in Rush Valley, Tooele
County, the upper parts vary from black, even darker than topotypes of
_albicaudatus_, to Tawny Olive, and the underparts vary from black
through Cinnamon Buff to Pinkish Buff. Most of the animals are Cinnamon
Buff. Although variable they approach _albicaudatus_ in color. The
total length, tail and hind foot of males are longer than in topotypes
of _albicaudatus_; females differ in the same direction but only
slightly. In both sexes the zygomatic breadth is less, but the mastoid
breadth is greater than in _albicaudatus_. In size and shape of the
lacrimal processes, and the great thickening of the jugal at the
maxillo-jugal suture they approach _robustus_. They are much larger,
however, and in the majority of characters are referable to
_albicaudatus_.
What has just been said relative to the animals from St. John applies
also to those from Clover Creek in the Onaqui Mountains of Tooele
County. At the latter locality the tendencies towards _robustus_ are
accentuated. This is to be expected, since this locality is midway
between St. John and the type locality of _robustus_. All characters
considered, these animals are all referable to _albicaudatus_.
The animals from Little Valley, Sheeprock Mountains, Tooele County,
resemble _albicaudatus_ in color. They vary on the upper parts from
near (1) Sepia to Clay Color, and ventrally from nearly black to
Pinkish Buff. They are markedly smaller in every measurement taken,
except zygomatic and mastoidal breadths, and extension of premaxillae
posterior to nasals. This relatively greater breadth indicates
intergradation with _robustus_ to the west. These gophers are smaller
in most measurements than any other population referred to
_albicaudatus_. This is understandable because gophers from mountains
usually are smaller and have weaker, smoother skulls than animals from
low lands. Although approaching _robustus_ in size and in some
aforementioned cranial details, the aggregate of characters including
color, make these animals referable to _albicaudatus_.
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