Valley Pocket Gopher
Thomomys bottae
On a grassy terrace adjacent to the Verde River, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 21 April 2012.
In the Sonoran Desert, Round-tailed Ground Squirrels are often misidentified as gophers. However, true gophers, like the Valley Pocket Gopher, almost never appear above ground. The view here, with just a head peeking out of the burrow is infrequently seen.
Geomyidae -- Pocket Gopher Family
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More Information:
- Wikipedia
- Univ. of Michigan Animal Diversity Web
- Encyclopedia of Life
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- Book Reference: Mammals of Arizona (1986), D. F. Hoffmeister, Univ. of Arizona Press.