Species: Thomomys mazama melanops

Animalia - Craniata - Mammalia - Rodentia - Geomyidae - Thomomys - may warrant consideration as a distinct species (Welch and Kenagy 2006). Welch and Kenagy (2006) identified four haplotype groupings within Washington, three associated with the Puget Sound prairie and the fourth, which is highly divergent, in the Olympic Mountains, which also exhibits a unique karyotype. Relatively little genetic differentiation within the Olympic population implies a recent bottleneck (Welch and Kenagy 2006). Further study is needed.