Reptiles and Amphibians Associated with Texas Pocket Gopher (Geomys personatus) Burrow Systems Across the Texas Sand Sheet

摘要

Pocket gophers (Rodentia: Geomyidae) are herbivorous solitary rodents that are highly modified morphologically for their fossorial lifestyle, enabling them to dig elaborate subterranean burrow systems (Stein 2000; Hafner et al. 2003; Merrit 2010). These burrow systems create unique environments for other organisms to invade and use, potentially leading to long-term interactions (Hafner et al. 2000, 2003). There have been multiple reported cases of associations between pocket gophers and invertebrates (e.g., Hubbell and Goff 1940; Blume and Summerlin 1988; Cameron 2000; Kovarik et al. 2008; Tisheckin and Cline 2008) as well as vertebrates, specifically mammals and herpeto- fauna (Table 1). Notably, many of the studies on the vertebrate associates of pocket gophers are restricted to a small number of pocket gopher species and geographic localities (Table 1). Here we present documented associations between the Texas Pocket Gopher (Geomys personatus) and other taxa, specifically herpe- tofauna.