Geographic distribution of pocket gophers (Rodentia, Geomyidae) of Honduras

Abstract

Three species of pocket gophers, family Geomyidae, have been reported from Honduras. We summarize and update the distribution of these species based on burrow observations, sightings, photographs, and a voucher specimen, most of which were obtained during surveys conducted between 2011 and 2022. We report one new, eastern most locality for Heterogeomys hispidus from the Department of Atlántida, a specimen of Orthogeomys grandis from the Department of La Paz, and 17 additional localities for geomyids. These include records located on the Caribbean versant of the Sierra Madre along the Río Ulúa and between the documented distributions of H. hispidus and O. grandis, and records between the known distributions of H. hispidus and H. cherriei. These observations provide an excellent opportunity to examine the relative ecological limits of the three taxa.