Megascapheus umbrinus

Southern Pocket Gopher
(*Megascapheus umbrinus*)
Southern Pocket Gopher (Megascapheus umbrinus)
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:	Rodentia
Suborder:	Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:	Castorimorphi
Superfamily:	Geomyoidea
Family:	Geomyidae
Subfamily:	Geomyinae
Tribe:	Thomomyini
Genus:	Megascapheus
Binomial details
	Megascapheus umbrinus (J. Richardson, 1829)
Other resources
	Full taxonomic details at MDD

The Southern Pocket Gopher (Megascapheus umbrinus) is a small pocket gopher found in a variety of habitats where soils are deep and suitable for digging. In Arizona, they are found in the oak belt of mountain ranges in the southern part of the state (Hoffmeister, 1986).

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

From Hoffmeister (1986): "small-sized...with a pronounced dark dorsal stripe extending from the nose nearly to the base of the tail, color on sides below dark stripe somewhat irridescent or purplish..."

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 157005 (Animas Mtns, Hidalgo Co., NM)	Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History	202	60	26

Skull

Holotype: USNM 51888. Megascapheus umbrinus umbrinus. Adult female. El Chico, Sierra de Pachuca, Hildalgo, Mexico. Collected 27 March 1893. Dorsal view of the skull.
Holotype: USNM 51888. Megascapheus umbrinus umbrinus. Adult female. El Chico, Sierra de Pachuca, Hildalgo, Mexico. Collected 27 March 1893. Ventral view of the skull.
Holotype: USNM 51888. Megascapheus umbrinus umbrinus. Adult female. El Chico, Sierra de Pachuca, Hildalgo, Mexico. Collected 27 March 1893. Lateral view of the skull.
Holotype: USNM 51888. Megascapheus umbrinus umbrinus. Adult female. El Chico, Sierra de Pachuca, Hildalgo, Mexico. Collected 27 March 1893. Dorsal view of the mandible.
Holotype: USNM 51888. Megascapheus umbrinus umbrinus. Adult female. El Chico, Sierra de Pachuca, Hildalgo, Mexico. Collected 27 March 1893. 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.

Patton JL. 1973. An analysis of natural hybridization between the pocket gophers, Thomomys bottae and Thomomys umbrinus, in Arizona. Journal of Mammalogy 54:561–584.

Patton JL, Dingman RE. 1968. Chromosome Studies of Pocket Gophers, Genus Thomomys. I. The Specific Status of Thomomys umbrinus (Richardson) in Arizona. Journal of Mammalogy 49:1–13.