Gopher: Difference between revisions

{{about|the rodent|other animals|gopher (disambiguation)}}

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{{mergefrom|Pocket gopher|discuss=Talk:Gopher (animal)#Merge proposal|date=January 2014}}

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{{Taxobox

| name = Gopher

| image = Pocket gopher.jpg

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| image_alt =

| image_caption = A pocket gopher

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| regnum = [[Animal]]ia

| divisio =

| classis = [[Mammalia]]<ref name="a-z-animals" />

| ordo =

| familia = [[Geomyidae]]<ref name="nwf pocket gophers">{{cite web | url=http://www.nwf.org/wildlife/wildlife-library/mammals/pocket-gophers.aspx | title=Pocket Gophers | publisher=National Wildlife Federation | accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref>

| genus = [[Spermophilus]]<ref name="a-z-animals" />

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| range_map = <!--optional map - also range_map2, 3 or 4 -->

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| phylum = [[Cnidaria]]<ref name="a-z-animals" />

| taxon = [[Rodentia]]<ref name="a-z-animals" />

| <!--or 115 other parameters-->

}}

The '''gopher''' is a small burrowing animal known for its extensive tunneling activities. Gophers are endemic to [[North America]] and [[Central America]]. They are commonly referred to as [[pocket gopher]]s and are classified in the family [[Geomyidae]].<ref>[http://www.dfw.state.or.us/species/mammals/gopher.asp Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife]</ref> There are approximately 35 species of gopher living in Central and North America.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outwit Critters:|url=http://www.outwitcritters.com/gopher/|accessdate=16 January 2014|quote=There are 35 species of gophers living in both North and Central America.}}</ref>

== Description ==

Gophers weigh around {{convert|0.5|lb|g}}, and are about {{convert|15|in|cm}} long in body length, with a tail {{convert|7|in|cm}} long. Their lifespan is normally one to three years<ref name="Hygnstrom">{{cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=gt-Yk3CRuXMC&pg=SL2-PA21 | title=Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage | publisher=DIANE Publishing Inc. | author=Hygnstrom, Scott E. | year=2010 | pages=B–21 | isbn=1-4379-3688-1}}</ref> assuming no diseases or predation. The maximum life span for the pocket gopher is approximately five years.<ref>{{cite book | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=a5OP19f_oPQC&pg=PA5 | title=Small Grain Production Pt 8: Pest Management -- Vertebrates | publisher=UCANR Publications | author=Whisson, Delsey | page=5 | isbn=1-60107-411-5}}</ref> Some gophers, such as those in the [[genus]] ''[[geomys]]'', have lifespans that have been documented as up to seven years in the wild.<ref name="Hygnstrom" /> Gophers dig tunnels and subterranean chambers, and are associated with the rodent [[Order (biology)|order]], [[Rodentia]]. There are over 100 kinds of gophers in America. Gophers are generally timid but may attack if provoked. If deprived of their normal vegetarian food supply, gophers have been known to resort to cannibalism.

=== Interaction with humans ===

Because of their burrowing, gophers can disrupt commercial agriculture, garden plots, landscaping, and underground cables. This has led to their frequent treatment as [[pest (animal)|pests]].

In the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, gophers, in the form of Richardson ground squirrels, have been declared as a pest. They are considered to be a problem throughout western Canada, and have ruined acres of farmland and pasture.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125554722|title=Saskatchewan Declares War On Gophers|last=Hansen|first=Liane|publisher=NPR|format=transcript|date=4 April 2010|accessdate=15 January 2014|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20140115085908/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125554722|archivedate=15 January 2014|deadurl=no}}</ref>

== Species ==

=== Pocket gopher ===

{{main|Pocket gopher}}

The [[pocket gopher]] has been considered as a "true" gopher.{{clarify|date=January 2014}} Their most characteristic features are their large [[cheek]] pouches, from which the word "pocket" in their name derives. They are [[hoarding (animal behaviour)|larder hoarders]], and their cheek pouches are used for transporting food back to their burrows. All pocket gophers are [[burrow]]ers. Pocket gophers examined by humans have been found to often have external [[Parasitism|parasites]] on them.<ref name="Hygnstrom" />

Depending on the species and local conditions, pocket gophers may have a specific annual breeding season or may breed repeatedly through the year. Each litter typically consists of two to five young, although this may be much higher in some species. The young are born blind and helpless, and are [[weaning|weaned]] at around forty days.<ref name=EoM>{{cite book |editor=Macdonald, D.|author= Patton, James|year=1984 |title= The Encyclopedia of Mammals|publisher= Facts on File|location=New York|pages= 628–631|isbn= 0-87196-871-1}}</ref>

== Habitat ==

Gophers create a network of [[Burrow|tunnel]] systems that provide protection and a means of collecting food. The entrances can be identified by small piles of loose dirt covering the opening.<ref name="a-z-animals">{{cite web | url=http://a-z-animals.com/animals/gopher | title=Gopher | publisher=A-Z Animals | accessdate=19 January 2014}}</ref> Their burrows can be found in many areas where the soil is softer and easily tunneled. The resulting destruction of plant life will then leave the area a stretch of denuded dirt. Gophers eat earthworms, grubs, plant roots, shrubs and other vegetables such as carrots, lettuce, radishes, and any other vegetables with juice. Unlike its close relative the ground squirrel, gophers do not live in large communities or show themselves above ground. Common predators of the gopher include weasels, snakes and hawks.<ref name="nwf pocket gophers" />

== In popular culture ==

* [[Gainer the Gopher]] is the [[mascot]] of the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] in the Canadian Football League.

* An animated gopher is the official mascot of the [[Go (programming language)|Go programming language]].<ref>[http://golang.org/doc/faq#Whats_the_origin_of_the_mascot FAQ – The Go Programming Language]</ref>

* It is the name of one the internet [[Gopher (protocol)|protocols]] which was very popular in its early times, now mostly in disuse.

* The [[University of Minnesota]]'s mascot is a gopher.<ref>[http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/goldy-gopher/ University of Minnesota Goldy Gopher]</ref>

* [[Gordon the Gopher]] was a popular children's television character in the UK in the 1980s.

== See also ==

{{portal|Mammals}}

* [[Naked mole rat]]

== References ==

[[Category:Mammals of North America]]

[[Category:Agricultural pests]]

[[Category:Grasslands of the United States]]

[[Category:Great Plains]]

[[Category:Pet rodents]]