Cratogeomys castanops

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	GEOMYIDAE

Scientific Name:

Cratogeomys castanops

Species Authority:

(Baird, 1852)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Yellow-faced Pocket Gopher

Synonym/s:

Pappogeomys castanops (Baird, 1852)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

Linzey, A.V.

Reviewer/s:

McKnight, M. (Global Mammal Assessment Team) & Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, presumed large population, lack of major threats, and because it is unlikely to be declining at nearly the rate required to qualify for listing in a threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species is known from the south-central USA and north-eastern Mexico. It occurs from the Arkansas River drainage in south-eastern Colorado and western Kansas southward to south of the Rio Grande in eastern Chihuahua and north-eastern Durango.
Countries:	Native: Mexico; United States (Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas)
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is common throughout its range.
Population Trend:	Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Yellow-faced Pocket Gophers are found in light soils such as the sandy/silty soils of valleys and river bottoms. When forced to inhabit rocky or dense soil areas this species does poorly and has lower population densities. Throughout its range, these areas of suitable soil correspond with mesquite and cactus communities in the west, and grassland communities in the east. The burrow system of this species may be up to 76 m long, including a main shaft with several shorter tunnels branching off to serve as foraging routes, as well as a deeper tunnel area with the nest and food storage areas. These burrows are occupied by one individual, except during the mating season when a pair may inhabit a burrow. The diet consists mainly of the underground portions of plants and low-growing green vegetation. Females typically have two litters per year, one in early spring and the other in late summer, with 1-3 young in each litter (Davidow-Henry 1989).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Yellow-faced Pocket Gophers are found in light soils such as the sandy/silty soils of valleys and river bottoms. When forced to inhabit rocky or dense soil areas this species does poorly and has lower population densities. Throughout its range, these areas of suitable soil correspond with mesquite and cactus communities in the west, and grassland communities in the east.

The burrow system of this species may be up to 76 m long, including a main shaft with several shorter tunnels branching off to serve as foraging routes, as well as a deeper tunnel area with the nest and food storage areas. These burrows are occupied by one individual, except during the mating season when a pair may inhabit a burrow.
The diet consists mainly of the underground portions of plants and low-growing green vegetation. Females typically have two litters per year, one in early spring and the other in late summer, with 1-3 young in each litter (Davidow-Henry 1989).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to this species. However, like many other gophers, this species is considered an agricultural pest and may cause damage to orchards and crops. As a result populations are often reduced by trapping and use of rodenticide (Davidow-Henry 1989). Populations may also be controlled by managing for the presence of large predatory birds including hawks and owls.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to this species. However, like many other gophers, this species is considered an agricultural pest and may cause damage to orchards and crops. As a result populations are often reduced by trapping and use of rodenticide (Davidow-Henry 1989). Populations may also be controlled by managing for the presence of large predatory birds including hawks and owls.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	There are several protected areas within this species' range.

Conservation Actions:

There are several protected areas within this species' range.

Citation:	Linzey, A.V. 2008. Cratogeomys castanops. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 June 2013.
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