Diagnosis.—Size medium (see measurements). Color: Upper parts and sides Pinkish Buff, purest on sides; underparts Pale Pinkish Cinnamon; inguinal and pectoral regions Pale Pinkish Buff; nearly all specimens have white on perineal region; nose grayish black; front feet, hind feet and distal third to half of tail white; postauricular patches black. Skull: Braincase moderately convex on dorsal surface; rostrum strongly depressed, giving the entire dorsal surface of the skull a "rocker-shape"; zygomatic arches heavy, short and widely spreading, widest posteriorly; upper incisors recurved, short and wide; molariform teeth large; alveolar length of upper molar series long; palatal pits deep; tympanic bullae moderately inflated ventrally; mastoidal breadth actually as well as relatively wide.
Comparisons.—Compared with topotypes of Thomomys bottae wahwahensis, convexus is of approximately the same color, but differs as follows: Size smaller; tail, hind foot, and ear shorter. Skull: Rostrum longer, narrower and more depressed; skull convex rather than flat; nasals longer, and convex rather than flat; tympanic bullae larger; zygomatic arches shorter and more massive; molariform teeth larger.
From topotypes of Thomomys bottae centralis, convexus differs in: Size smaller; tail and hind foot shorter. Color: Uniformly lighter, more white in perineal region. Skull: Smaller, more convex; rostrum shorter, wider and more depressed; zygomatic arches shorter and heavier; mastoidal breadth actually, as well as relatively wider; tympanic bullae more inflated ventrally; upper incisors shorter and wider.
Comparatively, topotypes of convexus can be distinguished from those of Thomomys bottae aureiventris by: Size smaller; tail and hind foot shorter. Color: Darker on upper parts; no "gold" on underparts. Skull: Smaller and more nearly flat; rostrum shorter and more depressed; zygomatic arches shorter, heavier and widest posteriorly rather than anteriorly; interpterygoid space V-shaped as opposed to lyre-shaped; upper incisors shorter, narrower and more recurved.
Topotypical specimens of convexus differ from those of Thomomys bottae nesophilus as follows: Size smaller; tail and hind foot shorter. Color: Uniformly lighter throughout, Cinnamon Buff as opposed to Pinkish Buff. Skull: Smaller; rostrum heavier, shorter and more depressed; zygomatic arches shorter, heavier and not so widely spreading; no widening of supraoccipital as in nesophilus; upper incisors shorter and more recurved.
When compared with topotypes of Thomomys bottae albicaudatus, convexus shows the following differences: Size smaller; tail and hind foot shorter. Color: Markedly lighter throughout. Skull: Smaller, more convex and compact; rostrum shorter, heavier, more depressed and compact; zygomatic arches shorter and more robust; upper incisors shorter and more recurved.
Thomomys bottae tivius is the race closest geographically to convexus. From it, convexus can be readily distinguished by: Size larger; tail shorter; hind foot longer. Color: Markedly lighter throughout. Skull: Much heavier and more compact, weights of skulls of males and females of the two subspecies being 2.4 grs., 1.6; 1.6, 1.2, respectively; rostrum heavier, wider and more depressed; zygomatic arches shorter, and more massive; upper incisors shorter, wider and more recurved; molariform teeth larger.
For comparisons with Thomomys bottae lenis, contractus, sevieri, bonnevillei, and robustus see accounts of those forms.
Remarks.—T. b. convexus is limited to the area around Clear Lake in Millard County. This lake is surrounded by areas of loose, shifting sand and flat areas of barren alkali. The lake is fed by springs which flow from lava outcroppings on its eastern side. As far as discernible, the only area populated by pocket gophers (1938) was that adjacent to the lake where vegetation had trapped the sand. The factor which limits the extension of range of this subspecies probably is plant food. Also, the soil is mechanically poor for burrowing, since it caves in easily and burrows were found only in the sand where salt grass (Distichlis stricta) had trapped and stabilized it. Burrows were found from the edge of the water back as far as this grass persisted.
Specimens examined.—Total, 17, from the type locality.