Evolutionary Relationships of Pocket Gophers of the Genus Pappogeomys (Rodentia: Geomyidae)

Hafner, Mark S.; Hafner, David J.; Demastes, James W.; Hasty, Gerald L.; Light, Jessica E.; Spradling, Theresa A.

doi:10.1644/08-mamm-a-168.1

Cited by 9 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 26 publications

(55 reference statements)

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“…We propose that rather than basing subspecific definitions on inconsistent morphological variation, subspecies within C. hispidus should be recognized based on genetic data and geographic barriers with which the genetically defined clades are broadly concordant. Using genetic data to recognize subspecies is in agreement with previous subspecies definitions (Barrowclough 1982;Endler 1977;Lidicker 1960Lidicker , 1962 and studies (Hafner et al 2008;Hafner and Smith 2010;Hafner et al 2009;Patton et al 2008;Shipp-Pennock et al 2005) and would result in biologically meaningful taxonomic designations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Phylogeography and subspecies revision of the hispid pocket mouse,Chaetodipus hispidus(Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

Andersen

Light

2012

J Mammal

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Phylogeography and subspecies revision of the hispid pocket mouse,Chaetodipus hispidus(Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

Andersen

Light

2012

J Mammal

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“…Generally, uniform body coloration in rodents provides protective camouflage, which is believed to be driven by the need to avoid detection by avian and mammalian predators with the whole pelage matching the background where animals are active (Sumner 1921;Dice 1947;Lawlor 1976;Krupa and Geluso 2000;Caro and Stankowich 2010). In rodents such as pocket gophers (Geomyidae), pelage coloration is uniform, but it displays a wide intraspecific variability (Ingles 1950;Hafner et al 2009). This characteristic has been related to different habitats occupied by different species or populations throughout their distribution, from desert to alpine environments (Patton and Brylsky 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pelage color variation in pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) in relation to sex, age and differences in habitat

Rios¹,

Álvarez-Castañeda²

2012

Mammalian Biology

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a b s t r a c tPelage coloration is a phenotypic characteristic in mammals that could be associated with an individual's survival and fitness; thus coloration gains adaptive importance. In geomyids, pelage coloration shows a relationship with the color of soils on which they live, mainly freshly dug soil of their burrows. This characteristic could be due to a camouflage adaptation to avoid predators. Pocket gophers disperse aboveground to establish a territory before they reach reproductive condition, and males disperse longer distances than females. The aim of this study was to evaluate pelage color variation in pocket gophers (Thomomys anitae) in relation to habitat differences, sex, and age, and determine its association to the color of the soil on which they live. Brightness of T. anitae's dorsal pelage coloration and that of soil samples from five different habitats in the Baja California peninsula, Mexico were measured to test four hypotheses: (1) Subadults show a wide coloration range, but extreme colors are lost in adulthood due to natural selection. (2) Males are more vulnerable to depredation than females; therefore, males' coloration is more homogenous as a protective camouflage. (3) In open habitats pocket gophers are more exposed to being detected by predators, therefore their pelage coloration pattern is less variable than that of individuals from habitats with more vegetation cover. (4) Pelage coloration better matches soil coloration in moist conditions similar to that of freshly dug soil of their burrows. The results confirmed our predictions; however, selection does not impose an equal pressure on pelage coloration on the five habitats evaluated; other factors such as population density and predator presence need to be assessed. The strongest effects are found in the most open habitat, and there is less strong support for predictions in habitats where predator assemblage is diminished.

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“…The low rates for Pappogeomys and Geomys are associated with the convergence between these 2 genera, particularly between P. bulleri and G. personatus . Pappogeomys has historically been difficult to delineate systematically in the absence of molecular data ( Hafner et al 2009 ). Tooth shape appears to be more informative than skull morphology in identifying Geomys , Orthogeomys , Heterogeomys , and Thomomys , but not Cratogeomys ( Calede and Glusman 2017 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The systematics of Geomyoidea have been the subject of much attention (e.g. Demastes et al 2002 ; Alexander and Riddle 2005 ; Belfiore et al 2008 ; Hafner et al 2008 , 2009 ; Mathis et al 2014 ; Riddle et al 2014 ; Spradling et al 2016 ). The family Heteromyidae is divided into the subfamilies Heteromyinae, composed of Heteromys ; Dipodomyinae, composed of Dipodomys and Microdipodops ; and Perognathinae, composed of Chaetodipus and Perognathus .…”

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confidence: 99%

Multivariate analyses of skull morphology inform the taxonomy and evolution of geomyoid rodents

Noftz

Calede

2022

Current Zoology

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Morphological analyses are critical to quantify phenotypic variation, identify taxa, inform phylogenetic relationships, and shed light on evolutionary patterns. This work is particularly important in groups that display great morphological disparity. Such is the case in geomyoid rodents, a group that includes 2 of the most species-rich families of rodents in North America: the Geomyidae (pocket gophers) and the Heteromyidae (kangaroo rats, pocket mice, and their relatives). We assessed variation in skull morphology (including both shape and size) among geomyoids to test the hypothesis that there are statistically significant differences in skull measurements at the family, genus, and species levels. Our sample includes 886 specimens representing all geomyoid genera and 39 species. We used the geometric mean to compare size across taxa. We used 14 measurements of the cranium and lower jaw normalized for size to compare shape among and within taxa. Our results show that skull measurements enable the distinction of geomyoids at the family, genus, and species levels. There is a larger amount of size variation within Geomyidae than within Heteromyidae. Our phylomorphospace analysis shows that the skull shape of the common ancestor of all geomyoids was more similar to the common ancestor of heteromyids than that of geomyids. Geomyid skulls display negative allometry whereas heteromyid skulls display positive allometry. Within heteromyids, dipodomyines, and non-dipodomyines show significantly different allometric patterns. Future analyses including fossils will be necessary to test our evolutionary hypotheses.

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Evolutionary Relationships of Pocket Gophers of the Genus Pappogeomys (Rodentia: Geomyidae)

Cited by 9 publications

References 26 publications

Phylogeography and subspecies revision of the hispid pocket mouse,Chaetodipus hispidus(Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

Phylogeography and subspecies revision of the hispid pocket mouse,Chaetodipus hispidus(Rodentia: Heteromyidae)

Pelage color variation in pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) in relation to sex, age and differences in habitat

Multivariate analyses of skull morphology inform the taxonomy and evolution of geomyoid rodents

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