pocket+gophers+blk3

Pocket Gophers

Suborder Characteristics: Family Characteristics: Range: Red is northern gopher. Black is plains gopher.
 * They all have the same jaw and structure of molar teeth.
 * They are usually nocturnal.
 * Goemyidae.
 * No subfamily

Plains/ Northern gopher: Size- 9 to 14in. Live: loose sand soil, fields. prairies, meadows, roadside ditches, pastures, etc... They have tunnels underground with 2 levels. Food: They eat roots, bulbs, and rhizomes. Identify: Light brown to gray upper, short legs, pink feet, long front claws, tiny eyes, short naked tails. Northern pocket gopher is yellowish brown. Tracks: Forepaw 7/8 inches long, well defined claw marks,spends almost the time underground. Lifespan: 2-5 years. Others: Specialized cheeck pockets to carry food and nesting material, they clean the pockets by flipping them inside out.



Sources: www.googleimages.com Mammals of minnesota feild guide by Stan Tekiela