Knox Jones's pocket gopher

Knox Jones's pocket gopher (Geomys knoxjonesi) is a species of pocket gopher found in Texas and New Mexico.[1] This species is named for Dr. J. Knox Jones Jr. (1929–1992), a prolific mammalogist at Texas Tech University.[3]

Knox Jones's pocket gopher
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Geomyidae
Genus: Geomys
Species:
G. knoxjonesi
Binomial name
Geomys knoxjonesi
Baker & Genoways, 1975[2]
Synonyms

Geomys bursarius knoxjonesi

It is a relatively small gopher, with a total length of about 24 cm (9.4 in), including an 8 cm (3.1 in) tail, and weighing from 160 to 185 g (5.6 to 6.5 oz). Males are slightly larger than females. It has a typical gopher-like body, with large, clawed, forelimbs, small eyes and ears, and a fur-lined cheek pouches. The fur is buff-brown fur and fades to white on the belly and feet. It is visually indistinguishable from the plains pocket gopher, and was formerly considered to be a subspecies of that animal, before being raised to full species status in 1989 on the basis of genetic differences.[4]

Knox Jones's pocket gopher is found in the central western regions of Texas, roughly between the counties of Ward, Martin, and Cochran, and in southeastern New Mexico as far as Chaves County.[2] Within this region, it inhabits areas with deep sandy soils, rather than the harder loamy soils favoured by the plains pocket gopher, and feeds on the roots and stems of plants such as yucca, sunflowers, and various grasses.[4]

The gopher is territorial and solitary, except during the October to April breeding season.[5] Gestation lasts about 23 days, and the young are weaned after three to four weeks.[4]

References
  1. Cassola, F. (2016). "Geomys knoxjonesi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T136258A22218149. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T136258A22218149.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. Baker, R.J.; Genoways, H.H. (1975). "A new subspecies of Geomys bursarius (Mammalia: Geomyidae) from Texas and New Mexico" (PDF). Occasional Papers, the Museum, Texas Tech University. 29: 1–18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-02-07.
  3. Findlay, J.S.; et al. (1996). "J. Knox Jones, Jr.: 1929–1992". Journal of Mammalogy. 77 (2): 578–593. doi:10.2307/1382831. JSTOR 1382831.
  4. Hopton, M.E.; Cameron, G.N. (2001). "Geomys knoxjonesi". Mammalian Species. 672: Number 672: pp. 1–3. doi:10.1644/1545-1410(2001)672<0001:GK>2.0.CO;2. S2CID 198969071.
  5. Pembleton, E.F.; Baker, R.J. (1978). "Studies of a contact zone between chromosomally characterized populations of Geomys bursarius". Journal of Mammalogy. 59 (2): 233–242. doi:10.2307/1379909. JSTOR 1379909.
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