Variable pocket gopher

Variable pocket gopher
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Geomyidae
Genus:	Heterogeomys
Species:	H. heterodus
Binomial name
Heterogeomys heterodus (Peters, 1865)
Synonyms
Orthogeomys heterodus

The variable pocket gopher (Heterogeomys heterodus) is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae.^[2] It is endemic to Costa Rica, usually being found in grasslands and tropical forests at higher altitudes, up to 8,000 feet. It is threatened by habitat loss, but are sometimes kept as pets in the United States and elsewhere.

The gopher typically has soft and dense fur colored blackish on the posterior and pale on the anterior. Its dentition features a longitudinal groove on outer face of each upper incisor. Large specimens range in length from 12 to 19 inches in length and weigh 16 to 35 ounces.

Some authors classify it in the genus Orthogeomys, but recent research has allowed this and its related species to be classified in the genus Heterogeomys.^[3]

1. ^ Emmons, L. (2016). "Orthogeomys heterodus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T15548A22215071. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T15548A22215071.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
2. ^ "Heterogeomys heterodus". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. 1.7. American Society of Mammalogists. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
3. ^ Spradling, T. A.; Demastes, J. W.; Hafner, D. J.; Milbach, P. L.; Cervantes, F. A.; Hafner, M. S. (2016). "Systematic revision of the pocket gopher genus". Journal of Mammalogy. 97 (2): 405–423. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyv185.

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