Heterogeomys hispidus (Le Conte, 1852)

Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Geomyidae, Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona: Lynx Edicions, pp. 234-269 : 247-248

27.

Hispid Pocket Gopher

Heterogeomys hispidus

French: Gaufre hérissé / German: Borstige Taschenratte / Spanish: Tuza hirsuta

Taxonomy. Geomys hispidus Le Conte, 1852 ,

“Mexico.” Modified by C. H. Merriam in 1895 to “near Jalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico.”

Placed into subgenus Heterogeomys . Heterogeomys was considered a subgenus of Orthogeomys by J. L. Patton in 2005 but was resurrected to genus status by T. A. Spradling and colleagues in 2016. Molecular studies suggest that H. hispidusis sister to H. lanius . Twelve subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

H.h.hispidusLeConte,1852—WCVeracruzandadjacentpartsofOaxaca,Mexico.

H.h.cayoensisBurt,1937—CBelizeandadjacentpartsofEGuatemala.

H.h.chiapensisNelson&Goldman,1929—CChiapas,MexicointoCGuatemala.

H.h.concavusNelson&Goldman,1929—NEQuerétaroandadjacentpartsofSanLuisPotosi,Mexico.

H.h.hondurensisDavis,1966—NWHondurasandadjacentpartsofGuatemala.

H.h.isthmicusNelson&Goldman,1929—SEVeracruz,Mexico.

H.h.latirostrisHall&Alvarez,1961—NEVeracruz,Mexico.

H.h.negatusGoodwin,1953—SCTamaulipas,Mexico.

H.h.teapensisGoldman,1939—STabasco,Mexico.

H.h.tehuantepecusGoldman,1939—NCOaxaca,Mexico.

H.h.torridusMerriam,1895—NhalfofVeracruzintoEPuebla,Mexico.

H. h. yucatanensis Nelson & Goldman, 1929 — Yucatan, Quintana Roo and E Campeche, Mexico, into N Belize and N Guatemala.

Descriptive notes. Head-body 210-270 mm, tail 75-90 mm; weight 450-600 g. Male Hispid Pocket Gophers are usually larger than females. Dorsal pelage is usually sparse and bristled, but specimensliving at elevations above 2000 m have moderately dense pelage. Many individuals have a partial or complete belt of white fur, 5-50 mm wide, encircling the lumbar region of the body. The Hispid Pocket Gopher has a fusiform body shape typical of all pocket gophers and possesses fur-lined cheek pouches that open external to the mouth. Anterior surface of each upper incisor has a single groove offset slightly toward the midline of the body. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 52 or 54 and FN = 78 or 98.

Habitat. Well-drained soils in a wide variety of habitats ranging from perennial tropical forests at high elevations to arid thornscrub habitats at low elevations. Elevational range extends from near sea level to ¢.2500 m.

Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Hispid Pocket Gopher probably feeds on roots, tubers, stems, and leaves of most plants available within the vicinity of its burrow system. It readily invades cultivated fields and is considered an agricultural pest whereverit occurs in contact with humans. As in all other pocket gophers, the burrow system is a series of shallow feeding tunnels radiating spoke-like from a deeper, central network that contains one or more nest chambers and several smaller chambers for storage of food or fecal pellets. Burrow systems of the Hispid Pocket Gopher can be 60 m or more in length and exceed 1 m in depth.

Breeding. The Hispid Pocket Gopher breeds year-round, with increased activity in October—June. Most females have two young perlitter.

Activity patterns. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Hispid Pocket Gopher is probably active at any hour ofthe day, with periods of peak activity around dawn and dusk. It does not hibernate and is active year-round.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no specific information available for this species, but the Hispid Pocket Gopheris likely solitary and aggressively territorial. Individuals probably leave their burrow systems only rarely, meaning that their home range is defined by size and extent of their burrow system.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The [UCN Red List (as Orthogeomys hispidus ).

Bibliography. Ceballos (2014), Hafner (1983), Hafner & Hafner (1987), Merriam (1895), Patton (2005b), Spradling et al. (2016), Vazquez, Emmons, Reid & Cuarén (2008d).

Figures

25. Michoacan Pocket Gopher (Zygogeomys trichopus), 26. Giant Pocket Gopher (Orthogeomys grandis), 27. Hispid Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys hispidus), 28. Big Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys lanius), 29. Chiriqui Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys cavator), 30. Darien Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys dariensis), 31. Cherrie’s Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys cherrier), 32. Variable Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys heterodus), 33. Underwood’s Pocket Gopher (Heterogeomys underwood), 34. Buller’s Pocket Gopher (Pappogeomys bulleri), 35. Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys castanops), 36. Goldman’s Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys goldman), 37. Oriental Basin Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys fulvescens), 38. Merriam’s Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys merriami), 39. Cofre de Perote Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys perotensis), 40. Volcan de Toluca Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys planiceps), 41. Smoky Pocket Gopher (Cratogeomys fumosus)

Subspecies and Distribution. H.h.hispidusLeConte,1852—WCVeracruzandadjacentpartsofOaxaca,Mexico. H.h.cayoensisBurt,1937—CBelizeandadjacentpartsofEGuatemala. H.h.chiapensisNelson&Goldman,1929—CChiapas,MexicointoCGuatemala. H.h.concavusNelson&Goldman,1929—NEQuerétaroandadjacentpartsofSanLuisPotosi,Mexico. H.h.hondurensisDavis,1966—NWHondurasandadjacentpartsofGuatemala. H.h.isthmicusNelson&Goldman,1929—SEVeracruz,Mexico. H.h.latirostrisHall&Alvarez,1961—NEVeracruz,Mexico. H.h.negatusGoodwin,1953—SCTamaulipas,Mexico. H.h.teapensisGoldman,1939—STabasco,Mexico. H.h.tehuantepecusGoldman,1939—NCOaxaca,Mexico. H.h.torridusMerriam,1895—NhalfofVeracruzintoEPuebla,Mexico. H. h. yucatanensis Nelson & Goldman, 1929 — Yucatan, Quintana Roo and E Campeche, Mexico, into N Belize and N Guatemala.