Megascapheus laticeps

Northern California Pocket Gopher
(*Megascapheus laticeps*)
Northern California Pocket Gopher (Megascapheus laticeps)
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:	Rodentia
Suborder:	Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:	Castorimorphi
Superfamily:	Geomyoidea
Family:	Geomyidae
Subfamily:	Geomyinae
Tribe:	Thomomyini
Genus:	Megascapheus
Binomial details
	Megascapheus laticeps (S. F. Baird, 1855)
Other resources
	Full taxonomic details at MDD

Warning! The American Society of Mammalogists' Mammal Diversity Database states: "further research using more integrative taxonomic methods is needed to confirm this taxonomic arrangement." In essence, the statement emphasizes that while the existing taxonomic arrangement might be a starting point, a more thorough investigation using integrative taxonomy is needed to confirm or refine species boundaries and provide stronger evidence for species status.

Description

The Northern California Pocket Gopher (Megascapheus laticeps) is a medium-sized herbivorous rodent that is fossorial (lives in the ground). They are thick-bodied, have fur-lined cheek pouches, and their forefeet have prominent claws for digging. This species was formerly considered a subspecies of Thomomys bottae.

External measurements

Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.

Part of range	Reference	Total length	Tail length	Hindfoot length	Ear length	Mass
Holotype USNM 146463 (Fort Bragg, Mendocino Co., CA)	Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History	226	78	29

Skull

Holotype: USNM 146463. Megascapheus laticeps. Adult male. Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California. Collected 30 November 1905. Dorsal view of the skull.
Holotype: USNM 146463. Megascapheus laticeps. Adult male. Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California. Collected 30 November 1905. Ventral view of the skull.
Holotype: USNM 146463. Megascapheus laticeps. Adult male. Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California. Collected 30 November 1905. Lateral view of the skull.
Holotype: USNM 146463. Megascapheus laticeps. Adult male. Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California. Collected 30 November 1905. Dorsal view of the mandible.
Holotype: USNM 146463. Megascapheus laticeps. Adult male. Fort Bragg, Mendocino County, California. Collected 30 November 1905. Lateral view of the left mandible.

Taxonomic notes

Elevation of subgenera within genus Thomomys Wied-Neuwied, 1839

Genetic analyses (CytB and COI) by Álvarez-Castañeda and Segura-Trujillo (2025) found that the two subgenera within the genus Thomomys Wied-Neuwied, 1839 — Megascapheus and Thomomys — are genetically distinct. Morphological and genetic data support considering these differences sufficient at the genus level. Both subgenera Megascapheus and Thomomys were elevated to the taxonomic rank of genus by Álvarez-Castañeda and Segura-Trujillo (2025).

Similar species

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References

Álvarez-Castañeda ST. 2010. Phylogenetic structure of the Thomomys bottae–umbrinus complex in North America. Molecular Phylogenetics and evolution 54(3): 671-679.

Eydoux JFT, Gervais P. 1836. Sur le genre Pæphagomys et quelques autres rongeurs qui l'avoisinent. Magasin de zoologie 6:17-24.