Cratogeomys merriami
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
Merriam's pocket gopher (Cratogeomys merriami) is a species of rodent in the family Geomyidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found in the area of the Valley of Mexico and the Valley of Toluca at elevations from 1800 to 4000 m. Its favored habitats are the Zacatonal grassland and temperate pine-oak woodlands, as well as farmland and rangeland. Its karyotype has 2n = 36 and FN = 68.
Until 2005, what are now considered the separate species C. fulvescens and C. perotensis were included within this taxon. They were split off due to clear molecular, chromosomal and morphological differences. All three species are part of the C. castanops species group.
The species is named after American mammalogist Clinton Hart Merriam. Although its distribution is patchy, it is not thought to be threatened. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico City | 🇲🇽 México | |
| 2 | Puebla | 🇲🇽 México |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Merriam's pocket gopher sighting in Puebla on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 7th most-seen of the 7 mammals we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
December
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Merriam's pocket gopher in Puebla on a given day, against under 5% in January and June–November, the lowest months. That is one of Puebla's driest months, with about 10 mm of rain against 170 mm in September.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Merriam's pocket gopher sightings, Puebla ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Mexico City (México, about 10%).
Same order: Rodentia
The closest relatives of the Merriam's pocket gopher that you can see in Puebla (order Rodentia, Rodents) are Rock Squirrel (about 40%), Red-bellied Squirrel (about 20%) and Mexican Ground Squirrel (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Merriam's pocket gopher is recorded against all the mammals logged in Puebla (5 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
