Geomys personatus True, 1889

Taxonomy and Common Name

This species, Geomys personatus True, 1889, commonly called the Texas pocket gopher, has the following physical description.

Male Size

Males reach a total length of around 32 cm (12.6 in), including a tail that measures about 11 cm (4.3 in).

Female Size and Weight

Females are slightly smaller than males, and both sexes weigh approximately 400 grams (14 oz).

Fur Coloration

Its dorsal fur is a dull greyish-brown, while its ventral surface is whitish with scattered darker patches.

Tail and Dental Features

The tail has very little hair, particularly close to the tip, and its upper incisors feature a single pair of grooves.

Core Distribution Range

Regarding distribution, the Texas pocket gopher occurs in southern Texas in the United States, extending north as far as Val Verde County and San Patricio County, and also in Tamaulipas, the northeasternmost state of Mexico.

Range Pattern

Like other species in the Geomys genus, its overall range is patchy and disjointed.

Gulf Coast Habitat Presence

It is a common species in the sand drifts located on Mustang Island and Padre Island in the Gulf of Mexico.

Taxonomic Reclassification

Populations of this gopher that were previously found in Maverick County, Zavala County, and Dimmit County have recently been reclassified as a separate distinct species, Strecker's pocket gopher.