G. bursarius Skull Replica measures 2.0 inches or 50mm. G. bursarius Skull is museum quality polyurethane cast. 2-part skull (separate cranium and jaw). Made in USA. Known as Plains Pocket Gopher. Our precise skull can be used as a teaching tool, museum skull exhibit, home decor skull, or office decor skull.
The Plains Pocket Gopher or G. bursarius is one of 35 species of pocket gophers, so named in reference to their externally located, fur-lined cheek pouches.
They are burrowing animals, found in grasslands and agricultural land across the Great Plains of North America, from Manitoba to Texas. Pocket gophers are the most highly fossorial rodents found in North America.
The G. bursarius has short fur with brown to black coloration over the upper body and lighter brown or tan fur on the underparts. Whitish hairs cover the tops of the feet, while the short, tapered tail is nearly naked.
Fossorial adaptations include small eyes, short, naked ears, and large fore feet with heavy claws. Zygomatic arches are widely flared, providing ample room for muscle attachment, although, unlike other pocket gophers G.bursarius does not use the curved incisors to assist the feet in digging.
The external cheek pouches, which distinguish this family from other mammals, can be turned inside-out for grooming purposes. They are used for carrying food up to 2.8 in. in length and have a forward opening.
The G.bursarius spend 72 percent of their time in their nests, coming above ground to search for food or mates, and for young animals to establish new burrows.
The G. bursarius are territorial and aggressive, especially in male to male interaction, these rodents appear to use their greatly increased sensitivity to soil vibration to maintain their solitary lifestyle.
The gophers share their tunnels with numerous species of insects, including flies, scarab and carrion beetles, and cave crickets.
Plains pocket gophers typically breed only once a year, although they may sometimes breed twice in good years or warmer climates.
The breeding season varies with latitude, ranging from April to May in Wisconsin to as long as January to September in Texas. Females give birth to one to six young after a gestation period around 30 days.
The young are born hairless and blind, and initially weigh about 5 g (0.18 oz). They begin to develop fur at 10 days, open their eyes at three weeks, and are weaned by five weeks of age.
Although they initially move around in their mother’s burrow, after weaning, they quickly leave to establish burrows of their own, and reach the full adult size after about three months.
G. bursarius known predators include rattlesnakes, prairie kingsnakes, gopher snakes, feral cats, coyotes, foxes, badgers, hawks, and owls.
