Buller's pocket gopher facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buller's pocket gopher |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pappogeomys
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| Species: |
bulleri
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| Synonyms | |
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The Buller's pocket gopher (Pappogeomys bulleri) is a special type of gopher. It lives only in Mexico. These small animals are great at digging tunnels underground.
About Its Family Tree
The Buller's pocket gopher is the only species in its group, called a genus, named Pappogeomys. Think of a genus like a family name. This gopher is the only one with that specific family name.
It has a close relative, the Alcorn's pocket gopher (P. b. alcorni). This gopher is a subspecies, which means it's a slightly different type within the same species. Long ago, people thought the Alcorn's pocket gopher was a completely different species. But now we know it's just a special kind of Buller's pocket gopher.
What Does It Look Like?
Buller's pocket gophers live in west-central Mexico. They are usually less than 270 millimeters (about 10.6 inches) long. They weigh less than 250 grams (about 8.8 ounces). That's about the weight of a small apple!
Their fur can be light gray or a darker shade. This depends on where they live. Their tail is often bare and white. It is about half the length of their head and body.
These gophers are built for digging. They have a strong, rounded body shape. Their jaws and front teeth are very powerful. They also have large, strong front paws. Their back legs and hips are smaller. All these features help them dig tunnels easily.
What do they eat? Their diet includes roots from desert shrubs. They also munch on grasses and other small plants.
Where Do They Live?
Buller's pocket gophers live in many different places. You can find them in:
- Forests high in the mountains
- Mountain meadows
- Grassy plains
- Lowlands near the coast
They can live from sea level up to over 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) high. They mostly live in mountainous areas. Here, they find deep soil, often from volcanoes, which is perfect for digging.
You might also find them in warm, wet places. They eat tropical shrubs there. They can even live near farms where crops are grown.
Their Amazing Burrows
These gophers are very good at digging tunnels. Their burrow systems are like underground homes. They use them for many reasons:
- Protection: Burrows keep them safe from bad weather. They also hide them from animals that might want to eat them.
- Food Storage: They store food in their tunnels.
- Raising Young: They raise their babies safely underground.
A typical burrow system has a main tunnel. This main tunnel then splits into many smaller paths.
- Shallow Tunnels: Tunnels close to the surface are for finding food. They dig near roots and other plants.
- Deep Tunnels: Deeper tunnels are used for sleeping and storing food.
On average, a Buller's pocket gopher burrow is about 19.9 centimeters (about 7.8 inches) deep. The tunnels are usually about 8.9 centimeters (about 3.5 inches) wide.
