Ultraviolet Biofluorescence in Pocket Gophers

Biofluorescence in mammal pelage is considered rare, but has been documented in multiple taxa in recent years. Herein, we provide the first observations of biofluorescence in fossorial mammals. We documented biofluorescence in live Geomys pinetis (southeastern pocket gopher) and in museum specimens...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe American midland naturalist Vol. 186; no. 1; pp. 150 - 155
Main Authors Pynne, J. T., Castleberry, Steven B., Conner, L. Mike, Piper, Colleen W., Parsons, Elizabeth I., Gitzen, Robert A., Duncan, Sarah I., Austin, James D., McCleery, Robert A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Notre Dame University of Notre Dame 01.07.2021
University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences
American Midland Naturalist
Subjects
Adaptiveness
Animal behavior
Birds
Book publishing
Communication
Forestry
Geomys pinetis
Mammals
Museums
Natural resources
NOTES AND DISCUSSION PIECE
Pelage
Reptiles & amphibians
Snakes
Terrestrial environments
United States
United States > US
Georgia
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Summary:Biofluorescence in mammal pelage is considered rare, but has been documented in multiple taxa in recent years. Herein, we provide the first observations of biofluorescence in fossorial mammals. We documented biofluorescence in live Geomys pinetis (southeastern pocket gopher) and in museum specimens of four additional geomyid species. Although unknown, the adaptive significance of biofluorescence in pocket gophers is likely similar to that documented in terrestrial and arboreal species previously, including communication or predator evasion.
ISSN:0003-0031
1938-4238
DOI:10.1674/0003-0031-186.1.150