Order Rodentia Family Geomyidae

1. Order RodentiaFamily Geomyidae • Diastema • 1 pair incisors • Ears shorter than tail • External fur-lined pouches • Tail less than ¾ length of head, body • Hind feet smaller than forefeet Geomys bursarius

2. Family Geomyidae Geomys busarius Plains Pocket Gopher

3. Geomys busariusPlains Pocket Gopher Description: Dark Brown or Black dorsally, slightly lighter ventrally; little or no hair on tail; 2 longitudinal grooves on each upper incisor. Size: total length 235-315mm, tail 65-90mm, hind foot 31-37mm, ear 6-9mm, wt. 190-420g Status: Common http://www.museum.state.il.us/muslink/prairie/htmls/popups/mammals_plgopher.html

4. Geomys busariusPlains Pocket Gopher Habitat: priarie, alfalfa fields, roadsides, ditches, pastures; prefers moist, deep sandy loam. Food: grasses, forbes, roots, underground stems Reproduction: solarity, except during breeding season; mate in late winter/early spring, one litter/yr, 1-6 young/litter

5. Geomys busariusPlains Pocket Gopher Interesting Facts: Burrow system may cover upto 5,000 sq ft. Estimated that Plains Pocket Gopher may move 52 cubic ft/yr (2 ½ tons)

6. Geomys busariusPlains Pocket Gopher References: Jones Jr., J. Knox and Elmer C. Birney. 1988. Handbook of mammals of the north-central states. University of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis, Minnesota. University of Kansas. Mammals of Kansas. http://www.ukans.edu/~mammals/geomys-burs.html. 29 September 2004. Timm, Robert M. 1999. photography.

7. Order RodentiaFamily Heteromyidae • Diastema • 1 pair incisors • Ears shorter than tail • External fur-lined pouches • Tail more than ¾ length of head, body • Hind feet larger than forefeet Perognathus flavescens

8. Perognathus flavescens Identification: Dorsum cinnamon with blackish hairs; venter lighter; light-colored patch behind ears and around eyes Distribution: West (Loess Hills), southeast, central Iowa Habitat: Grassy slopes; well drained; small burrows

9. Perognathus flavescens Diet: Seeds of grasses, other herbs Reproduction: 2-3 litters of 3-8 annually Conservation: Endangered; several isolated populations

10. Order RodentiaFamily Castoridae • Diastema • 1 pair incisors • Ears shorter than tail • Hind feet webbed • Tail scaly, paddle-shaped Castor canadensis

11. BeaverCastor canadensisCharles Weyer http://www.okc.cc.ok.us/biologylabs/Images/Evolimages/beaver.jpg Identification Highly modified for semiaquatic habitat -Largest rodent in North America -Tail paddle shaped, flattened, scaly and nearly naked -Hind feet webbed -Total length 86-120cm -Weight 15-45kg -teeth angled so that continually sharpen because teeth continually grow http://www.wildernessclassroom.com/www/schoolhouse/boreal_library/animals/photos/beaver.jpg

12. Beaver Castor canadensis Distribution and Conservation Status • Ranges over much of North America from northern Mexico to central Alaska • Occurs in suitable aquatic habitat but not a widely distributed as historic range • Common in Iowa in suitable habitats • Not endangered or threatened in Iowa or federal list http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=CASTOR+CANADENSIS+

13. Beaver Castor canadensis Habitat • Aquatic habitats of almost any kind streams, creeks, or ponds of low flow gradient and plentiful woody plants. • Avoids large lakes and fast moving streams. • Need water deep enough so that it doesn’t freeze to bottom because store food under ice • In many cases will modify waterway to meet their needs with dams made of trees sticks and mud. • Usually live in lodges in family groups, in water deep enough so entrance not froze over in winter. • Family groups have home range of .8 km around den. May maintain or than one dam or lodge. http://www.questconnect.org/IMAGES/Beaver_lodge.jpg

18. Beaver Castor canadensis Diet • Strictly Herbivores • Eat leaves, bark, and twigs of woody plants • Aquatic plants during summer • Will visit near by fields to eat crops • Cache food in winter under ice. Mainly woody plant bark, twigs, and branches http://www.betterdaysarecoming.com/views/windshield/set8/beaver2.jpg

19. Beaver Castor canadensis Reproduction • Breeding occurs January through March. • 105-107 day gestation period • One litter per year with 1 to 9 offspring. • Females take 3 years to reach sexual maturity. Males take about one year. • Young stay with family group for about 2 years. • Live in family group with 3-6 individuals and one breeding female. http://wrcmn.org/wrcmn/dugallery/pictures/_190.jpg

20. Beaver Castor canadensis Other • Keystone species • Do not hibernate, do enter torpor. • Primarily nocturnal but can be active at any time of day • Create wet land habitat, sponge up flood waters, prevent erosion, and filter water. • Damage timber stands and agricultural fields, damage roads, drainage ditches, septic systems, and other property through flooding and dam building. • In 1800’s trapped for pelts, almost destroyed many populations over much of natural range. Came back after drop in commercial value of pelts. • Still trapped for recreation in many states http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nps.gov/akso/ParkWise/Students/PhotoGallery/

21. References Comprehensive report, Castor canadensis. Retrieved from <http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=CASTOR+CANADENSIS+>. Accessed on September 25th, 2004. J. Knox Jones Jr., and Elmer C. Birney. Handbook of Mammals of the North Central United States. 1988. University of Minnesota Press. Minneapolis, MN. Managing wildlife damage, Beavers (Castor canadensis). Retrieved from <http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/wildlife/420-202/420-202.html#L2>. Accessed on September 25th, 2004.