Is a Gopher a Rodent?
Yes. Pocket gophers belong to order Rodentia and the family Geomyidae (the “true” gophers). Hallmarks include fur‑lined cheek pouches and ever‑growing incisors adapted for digging and gnawing. They are endemic to North and Central America and are distinct from other burrowing rodents like moles and voles.
In short: Yes, gophers are rodents.
Details: Gophers belong to the order Rodentia, which includes all rodents—mammals characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. Gophers specifically are part of the family Geomyidae, known as pocket gophers due to their distinctive fur-lined cheek pouches used for transporting food.
Like other rodents, gophers have ever-growing incisors that require constant gnawing to keep them from becoming too long. Their diet is primarily herbivorous, consisting of roots, tubers, and other plant material. Gophers are well-adapted for a burrowing lifestyle, with strong forelimbs and claws for digging, and their physical and behavioral traits clearly place them within the rodent group.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Rodentia
- Family: Geomyidae
- Genus: Thomomys (most common genus)
- Species: Multiple species (e.g., Thomomys bottae - Botta's pocket gopher)
Key Traits
- Cheek Pouches: Fur-lined, external pouches for carrying food.
- Incisors: Large, ever-growing front teeth for digging and gnawing.
- Fossorial Lifestyle: Adapted for a subterranean existence with strong forelimbs and claws.
- Diet: Primarily herbivorous, feeding on roots, tubers, and vegetation.
- Behavior: Solitary and territorial, with extensive burrow systems.
Related Gear
Hardware Cloth (1/2–3/4")
Heavy-duty galvanized hardware cloth (wire mesh) for garden and pest control applications. 1/2" or 3/4" mesh size, 19 gauge wire.
Guides
Learn more:
- Encyclopaedia Britannica—Pocket gophers
- Animal Diversity Web—family Geomyidae overview