| Variable Pocket Gopher | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Geomyidae |
| Genus: | Orthogeomys |
| Species: | O. heterodus |
| Binomial name | |
| Orthogeomys heterodus (Peters, 1865) |
|
The Variable Pocket Gopher (Orthogeomys heterodus) is a species of rodent in the Geomyidae family. It is endemic to Costa Rica, usually in grasslands and tropical forests in 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 dentation 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.