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
_Diagnosis._--Size medium (see measurements). Color: Upper parts Snuff
Brown, finely mixed with black; sides and flanks Sayal Brown;
underparts overlaid with Cinnamon Buff, with suffusion of black on
underfur; postauricular patches black, extending around ear; ears
pointed and covered with black hairs; nose, cheeks, chin and top of
head dusky; front feet, hind feet and distal part of tail white; tail
covered proximally with light brown hairs. Skull: Moderately heavy and
ridged; nasals long, wide posteriorly and not markedly dilated
distally; posterior ends of nasals emarginate; zygomatic arches fairly
widely spreading and angular, being nearly straight in adults, but
tending to bow out slightly at posterior ends in young; zygomatic
processes of maxillae heavy; interparietal small and variously shaped,
but always wider than long; interorbital region fairly wide; well
marked dorsal depression in frontals posterior to ends of nasals;
interpterygoid space narrowly V-shaped; tympanic bullae large;
occipital condyles large and widely separated; foramen magnum large and
higher than wide; basioccipital wide; dentition light.
_Comparisons._--From topotypes of _Thomomys talpoides moorei_,
_wasatchensis_ differs as follows: Size slightly larger; ears longer
and more pointed. Color: Generally darker throughout; postauricular
patches smaller. Skull: Zygomatic arches not as widely spreading;
zygomatic processes of squamosals dip farther ventrally; premaxillae
less extended posterior to nasals; nasals wider posteriorly and less
dilated distally; median dorsal depression of frontals present;
tympanic bullae generally larger, but less inflated ventrally; foramen
magnum larger especially in dorsoventral dimension; occipital condyles
farther apart; basioccipital wider; alveolar length of upper molar
series less; molariform teeth smaller; upper incisors wider and
shorter.
Topotypes of _wasatchensis_ differ from topotypes and near topotypes of
_Thomomys talpoides uinta_ as follows: Size larger in every measurement
taken. Color: Darker throughout; ears longer and more pigmented;
opening of external ear smaller; postauricular patches larger. Skull:
In females larger throughout, more massive and angular; nasals longer,
wider and not so dilated distally; rostrum longer but wider; zygomatic
arches wider, more angular and less widely spreading posteriorly;
extension of premaxillae posterior to nasals less; tympanic bullae
larger, but less inflated ventrally; foramen magnum larger and more
ovoid; width across occipital condyles greater; basioccipital wider;
molariform teeth smaller; upper incisors shorter and wider.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account