Black Pocket Gophers

I noticed that I catch two different colors of pocket gophers, and I was wondering if they are two different kinds of gophers of just a different color variation?
Here are some pictures of the colors.




Thanks

The Plains Pocket Gopher Geomys bursarius



This is the only Geomys species found in the North as far as most of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma

http://trapperrobb.com/nuisance-wildlife-trappers-directory/wildlife-information/pocket-gophers/

Depending on where you live in Minnesota like near the ND line you may have caught the Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) is found in British Columbia, Alberta, Sasketewan, Manitoba in Canada and in North and South Dakota, Washington, Oregon, Utah, extreme NE California, Idaho, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona.

Soil type can affect the color of fur too! Our red clay makes for some pretty red stained gophers yet I don't believe they are not a true species variation here. Maybe Steve Albano can add to this.

FYI:

Pockets gophers have been classified in three distinct genera .

Geomys- These pocket gophers have large and strong foreclaws; very small eyes; two grooves on upper incisors.

Thomyms- These pocket gophers have small forelegs and slender foreclaws; small eyes and no grooves on upper incisors. They have incisors that are very pronounced and stick out.

Cratogeomys- Very large upper and lower incisors, large strong foreclaws medium sized eyes and have one groove on incisors.


You will get your own answer if you look at the upper incisors and see if they have or do not have grooves.

Gophers vary a lot in color, even in the same species in the same area. These three were caught within 100 feet of each other.

awesome photo Steve!

Thanks for the information, I had never thought about the soil having a affect on the color. I will check for the tooth grooves on the next one I catch.