Gopher: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:gopher.jpg|thumb|'''Richardson's Ground Squirrel''' <br> Banff, Alberta, Canada]] |
[[Image:gopher.jpg|thumb|'''Richardson's Ground Squirrel''' <br> Banff, Alberta, Canada]] |
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A '''gopher''' is a small burrowing [[rodent]] |
A '''gopher''' is a small burrowing [[rodent]]. Varieties include |
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* '''[[ |
* '''[[pocket gopher]]s''' of the family [[Geomyidae]], native to North America, also called '''true gophers''' |
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* many ground squirrels from among the family [[Sciuridae]] |
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** particularly '''[[Richardson's Ground Squirrel]]''', ''Spermophilus richardsonii'' |
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Surely more specific species or groups of species need to be added to this list! |
Surely more specific species or groups of species need to be added to this list! |
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All gophers have in common |
All gophers have in common the digging of tunnels and subterranean chambers and the traits associated with the rodent [[Order (biology)|order]], Rodentia. Disruption of such human plans for the surface as commercial agriculture, garden plots, and some landscaping, by their underground activities, leads to their frequent treatment as [[pest (animal)|pest]]s. In contrast, [[North America]]n entertainment culture and non-technical literature tends to anthropomorphize gopher characters as non-threatening, if perhaps rascally, figures. |
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Gophers are notably much smaller than [[ground hog]]s in many ways. For example |
Gophers are notably much smaller than [[ground hog]]s in many ways. For example: Weight .5lbs, Head and Body 6 inches, Tail 3 inches, and 2-3 year lifespan. <!-- |
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Honestly, folks, i can't tell if p.d.s qualify as gophers in the broadest sense or not; someone willing to do research (or of course already better informed) should figure that out! |
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--> The mythology of the largely disappeared American [[prairie]], while often distinguishing the [[prairie dog]] from gophers, accords the prairie dog a niche as the romantic small-animal symbol of the prairie. |
--> The mythology of the largely disappeared American [[prairie]], while often distinguishing the [[prairie dog]] from gophers, accords the prairie dog a niche as the romantic small-animal symbol of the prairie. |
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Revision as of 17:30, 26 March 2008
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Banff, Alberta, Canada
A gopher is a small burrowing rodent. Varieties include
- pocket gophers of the family Geomyidae, native to North America, also called true gophers
- many ground squirrels from among the family Sciuridae
- particularly Richardson's Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus richardsonii
All gophers have in common the digging of tunnels and subterranean chambers and the traits associated with the rodent order, Rodentia. Disruption of such human plans for the surface as commercial agriculture, garden plots, and some landscaping, by their underground activities, leads to their frequent treatment as pests. In contrast, North American entertainment culture and non-technical literature tends to anthropomorphize gopher characters as non-threatening, if perhaps rascally, figures.
Gophers are notably much smaller than ground hogs in many ways. For example: Weight .5lbs, Head and Body 6 inches, Tail 3 inches, and 2-3 year lifespan. The mythology of the largely disappeared American prairie, while often distinguishing the prairie dog from gophers, accords the prairie dog a niche as the romantic small-animal symbol of the prairie.
 | This article about a rodent is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |