Found throughout North America and Central America, Gophers are a member of the order Rodentia. There are at least 35 distinct species, of which 13 live in the United States.
Gophers are often found in pastures, gardens, savannas, and forests. They prefer to live alone underground.
A single gopher’s burrow may extend as far as 600 square meters. The network includes designated living areas and many subterranean passageways.
They are recognizable by their round, rat-like shape and hairless tails. Weighing in at one and two pounds, a gopher stands about eight inches tall.
Gophers exclusively eat vegetation. They forage at night, seeking out plants, roots, and certain types of vegetables.
The plants they forage are stored inside cheek pockets that are lined with fur. This has earned them the nickname “pocket gophers.”
Table of Contents
- Blesmols
- Pacas
- Groundhogs
- Prairie Dogs
- Tuco-tucos
- Chipmunks
- Porcupines
- Lemmings
- Beavers
- Capybaras
- Chinchillas
- Gundis
- Hutias
- Pacaranas
- Voles
- Coypus
Blesmols
Blesmols are a type of rodent found only in the contentment of Africa. Their habitat range is south of the Sahara desert. They are called Mole Rats because they look very similar to moles.
The largest species is the Dune Blesmole, which grows up to 13 inches long and weighs four pounds. They have long, cylindrical bodies with short limbs and long front teeth.
Like gophers, blesmoles live underground and create intricate tunnel systems. They are also herbivores, foraging for roots and plants. Most species are solitary and live alone.
Unlike gophers, blesmoles dig with their teeth and use their feet to kick dirt out of tunnels. Two species live in large colonies of up to 300 other individuals.
Pacas
Pacas are herbivorous rodents found in South America and Central America. They prefer the tropical climate found in rain forests and water forests.
As the sixth-largest member of the order Rodentia, pacas grow up to 30 inches in length and can weigh as much as 30 pounds.
Pacas resemble pigs, with long, stocky bodies and short slender legs. They are brown with distinctive white stripes on their sides.
They favor living underground in burrows … Read the rest of the story.
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