Cratogeomys neglectus
Querétaro pocket gopher

Queretaro pocket gophers (Cratogeomys neglectus) are found only in the northeastern part of the state of Queretaro, Mexico. They are located in a small range of mountains known as the Sierra del Doctor, which is part of the city of Pinal de Amoles. (Leon, et al., 2001)

Queretaro pocket gophers live in mountainous regions where the habitat is transitional between oak and pine forests. The majority of their activity occurs in agricultural areas that are next to pine forests with many trees and low vegetation. Dark mounds of soil, which indicate the presence of their tunnels, are often seen on hillsides and in agricultural fields. (Leon, et al., 2001)

Queretaro pocket gophers are small animals with soft, shiny hair. They have a spindle-shaped body, strong forelimbs, reduced external ears, and a short, thin tail, as is typical of other members of the family Geomyidae. The hair on their backs is dense and gray to yellowish-brown, while the hair on their bellies is thinly scattered and gray to yellowish-red. They have whitish hairs on the throat and bottoms of the hind feet. Around their ears, the hair is dark brown, and their tails are sparsely covered with reddish hairs.

These animals have well-developed cheek pouches with openings outside the buccal cavity. Their procumbent incisors protrude from the mouth even when it is closed.

Males and females are sexually dimorphic in size. Males can weigh from 183 to 500 g and are 220 to 370 mm in length. Females can weigh from 290 to 360 g and are 260 to 304 mm in length. (Leon, et al., 2001; Merriam, 1902; Russell, 1968)

There is little information on the mating system and behavior of Queretaro pocket gophers, but in a close relative, Cratogeomys tylorhinus, the sexes meet only to breed.

Another species in the family Geomyidae, Buller's pocket gopher (Pappogeomys bulleri), is believed to be polygynous. These animals are also solitary except when breeding. (Kenny and Myers, 2006; Nowak, 1999)

The breeding season for Queretaro pocket gophers starts in early spring, when burrowing activity increases. Little information is available about the reproductive cycle of this species. However, a pregnant female was acquired by Leon et al. (1990); this female had two embryos.

Buller's pocket gophers, a related species, breed year-round, but most mating takes place in the spring. Males and females reach sexual maturity at an age of nine months to one year. After a gestation period of about 20 days, a female will give birth to a litter of two to eleven offspring. In two months the young are weaned and they leave their mother. (Kenny and Myers, 2006; Leon, et al., 1990; Leon, et al., 2001)

There is little available information regarding parental investment and care in Queretaro pocket gophers. However, in Buller's pocket gophers, all parental care is performed by the female. She provides protection and nourishment to her offspring until they are weaned. Since Queretaro pocket gophers are solitary, it is likely that females of this species also fulfill all of the parental responsibilities. (Kenny and Myers, 2006)

Data on the lifespan of Queretaro pocket gophers are not available. Buller's pocket gophers live to be about 5 years of age. (Kenny and Myers, 2006)

Queretaro pocket gophers are solitary, fossorial mammals. They dig burrow systems that are separated from one another and are occupied by one individual. These systems are on average about one quarter meter below the surface, and there can be many secondary tunnels branching off of the main tunnel. Burrow systems are usually built during the early morning and late evening hours.

Captive Queretaro pocket gophers sleep most of the day, but in the early morning they are active and feed voraciously. After feeding, they clean their head, neck, and cheek pouches with their front feet. They sleep deeply and curl their heads under their bellies so only their backs are exposed. (Leon, et al., 2001)

The home range for this species has not been reported.

It has been noted that in captivity when one pocket gopher senses that another is near, it will rub its lower incisors against its upper incisors to make a clicking noise. It will also hiss. (Leon, et al., 2001)

Queretaro pocket gophers eat roots and stems from a variety of plant and tree species. Captive animals also eat corn, alfalfa, carrots, lettuce, and potatoes. They shake food items before ingesting them. (Leon, et al., 2001)

Several carnivores reportedly prey on Queretaro pocket gophers. These include tejons (Nasua nasua), long-tailed weasels (Mustela frenata), coyotes (Canis latrans), and gray foxes (Urocyon cinereoargenteus). Also, two species of snakes, Queretaran blotched rattlesnakes (Crotalus aquilus) and Mexican pine snakes (Pituophis deppei) are predators of Queretaro pocket gophers. Queretaro pocket gophers avoid most predation through their fossorial and nocturnal life style. (Dixon, et al., 1972; Leon, et al., 2001)

Several types of animals use burrow systems made by Queretaro pocket gophers. These include spiders (Araeneidae), centipedes (Chilopoda), beetles (Coleoptera), springtails (Collembola), flies (Diptera), crickets (Orthoptera), mesquite lizards (Sceloporus grammicus), and Yarrow's spiny lizards (S. jarrovi). Their burrow digging helps to aerate and mix soil nutrients and their foraging impacts plant communities where they occur. (Leon, et al., 2001)

Little information is available about any benefits Queretaro pocket gophers provide to humans. It has been suggested that Buller's pocket gophers have a positive effect on agriculture because their burrowing helps to aerate and fertilize the soil. It is possible that Queretaro pocket gophers have a similar impact. (Kenny and Myers, 2006)

Queretaro pocket gophers are seen as pests by local people because their burrows and feeding habits harm trees and crops. Otherwise, there are no known adverse affects of these animals on humans. (Leon, et al., 2001)

Queretaro pocket gophers are considered a critically endangered species by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Queretaro pocket gophers were previously recognized as Pappogeomys neglectus.