Megascapheus bottae

(Eydoux & P. Gervais, 1836)

Botta's Pocket Gopher

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Supramyomorpha
Infraorder : Castorimorphi
Family : Geomyidae
Subfamily : Geomyinae
Tribe : Thomomyini
Genus : Megascapheus

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Eydoux, J.F.T. and Gervais, P. 1836. Sur le genre _Pæphagomys_ et quelques autres rongeurs qui l'avoisinent. Magasin de zoologie 6:17-24.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37086010

Original name as described

Oryctomys (Saccophorus) Bottae

Other common names

Valley Pocket Gopher

Type locality

"coast of California." Restricted by S. F. Baird in 1855 to "Monterey and San Francisco" (Monterey Co., California, USA).

Biogeographic realm

Nearctic

Country distribution

United States

Subregion distribution

USA(CA)

Taxonomy notes

previously included M. baileyi, M. connectens, M. fulvus, M. laticeps, M. nigricans, and M. ruidosae, although further research using more integrative taxonomic methods is needed to confirm this taxonomic arrangement; moved from Thomomys to Megascapheus

Taxonomy notes citation

Bradley, R. D., Pham, A. T., Rich, K. A., Roberts, E. K., Soniat, T. J., Poehlein, C. M., Mills, M. N., Ballard, M., Pitts, R. M., Lindsey, L. L., Halsey, M. K., Ray, D. A., Stevens, R. D., Schmidly, D. J., & Wright, E. A. (2023). Genetic identification of pocket gophers (genera Cratogeomys, Geomys, and Thomomys) in Texas and surrounding areas. Museum of Texas Tech University, Special Publications, 78, 1-120. · Álvarez-Castañeda, S. T., & Segura-Trujillo, C. A. (2025). Genus-level review of pocket gophers in the family Geomyidae. Therya, 16(1), 41-75.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1001878

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Oryctomys (Saccophorus) Bottae

(Eydoux & P. Gervais, 1836)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

bottae

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Authority page

23

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/37086010

Authority publication

Magasin de zoologie

Thomomys Bottae

(Lesson, 1842)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

bottae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

119

Authority publication

Paris

Name usages

  1. Lesson (1842:119) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/36812)
  2. Hall & Davis (1935:389) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69520)
  3. Benson (1935:449) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69523)
  4. Bailey (1936:252, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806173) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)
  5. Hatfield (1942:151, https://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc1.b3731070?urlappend=%3Bseq=187%3Bownerid=9007199257870042-191) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69512)
  6. Russell (1968:520, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4385149) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/13316)
  7. Anderson (1972:287) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/15657)
  8. Corbet & Hill (1980:138) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  9. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:381) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  10. Lundelius (1984:465) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/31294)
  11. Corbet & Hill (1991:147) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63070)
  12. Patton (1993:473) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69021)
  13. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)
  14. Álvarez-Castañeda (2010:679) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/6593)
  15. Bradley, Ammerman, Baker, Bradley, Cook, Dowler, Jones, Schmidly, Stangl, Van Den Bussche & Würsig (2014:19, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/57785979) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/19157)
  16. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:240) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)
  17. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #21799) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  18. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #21799) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  19. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1001878) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  20. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/21799/115163311) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Thomomys altivallis

(Rhoads, 1895)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

altivallis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ANSP 8927 (= SNR 1927)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

34

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1975660

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys bottae pallescens

(Rhoads, 1895)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

pallescens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ANSP 8932 (= SNR 1932)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

36

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1975662

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys angularis

(C. H. Merriam, 1897)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

angularis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:58123

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/349ca8137-8f3a-4dcb-be1c-e67a48a7d225

Authority page

214

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3942344

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys angularis pascalis

(C. H. Merriam, 1901)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

pascalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:32779 (= USNM:MAMM:A44702)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/388150c08-3b40-4e56-a258-5b9c69086cdc

Authority page

111

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2338989

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Thomomys aureus perpes

(C. H. Merriam, 1901)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

perpes

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:25091 (= USNM:MAMM:A32503)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/38018443a-58c4-40e0-acc4-01de71c808ae

Authority page

111

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2338989

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys scapterus

(D. G. Elliot, 1904)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

scapterus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

FMNH:Mamm:12372

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/fmnh/mammals?id=99965401-789a-4547-bd86-9aeab617550e

Authority page

248

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2652828

Authority publication

Field Columbian Museum, Zoölogical Series

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys mewa

(C. H. Merriam, 1908)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

mewa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:133183

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3049941bd-be57-41e7-b837-2c20bf857daf

Authority page

146

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3333967

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Thomomys diaboli

(J. Grinnell, 1914)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

diaboli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:14165

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:14165

Authority page

313

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29524709

Authority publication

University of California Publications in Zoology

Name usages

  1. Grinnell (1914:313, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29524709) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69094)
  2. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys infrapallidus

(J. Grinnell, 1914)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

infrapallidus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:14181

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:14181

Authority page

314

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29524710

Authority publication

University of California Publications in Zoology

Name usages

  1. Grinnell (1914:314, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/29524710) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69094)
  2. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys neglectus

(V. O. Bailey, 1914)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

neglectus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:137869

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/30706b614-6620-4f9c-badc-228cac38267e

Authority page

117

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/55445048

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys bottae occipitalis

(Dice, 1925)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

occipitalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

UCMP:V:21876

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://ucmpdb.berkeley.edu/cgi/ucmp_query2?spec_id=V21876&one=T

Authority page

125

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/59230086

Authority publication

Carnegie Institution of Washington Publication

Thomomys argusensis

(Huey, 1931)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

argusensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:9545

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-9545

Authority page

43

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5718565

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys bottae ingens

(J. Grinnell, 1932)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

ingens

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:51421

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:51421

Authority page

405

Authority publication

University of California Publications in Zoology

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys bottae piutensis

(J. Grinnell & J. Eric Hill, 1936)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

piutensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:60051

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:60051

Authority page

103

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34552395

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys bottae lorenzi

(Huey, 1940)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

lorenzi

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:10608

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-10608

Authority page

219

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5716061

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Thomomys bottae bottae

(J. L. Patton, 2005)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

bottae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:240) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Thomomys bottae mewa

(J. L. Patton, 2005)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

mewa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:240) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Thomomys bottae neglectus

(J. L. Patton, 2005)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

neglectus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:240) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Thomomys bottae pascalis

(J. L. Patton, 2005)

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

pascalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8529)

Megascapheus bottae

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo, 2025

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

bottae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

56

Authority publication

Therya

Name usages

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo (2025:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68853)

M. b. bottae

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo, 2025

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

bottae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

56

Authority publication

Therya

Name usages

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo (2025:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68853)

M. b. mewa

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo, 2025

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

mewa

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

56

Authority publication

Therya

Name usages

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo (2025:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68853)

M. b. pascalis

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo, 2025

Family

Geomyidae

Root name

pascalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

56

Authority publication

Therya

Name usages

Álvarez-Castañeda & Segura-Trujillo (2025:56) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/68853)

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