one of several north american burrowing rodents of the genera geomys and thomomys, of the family geomyidae; -- called also pocket gopher and pouched rat. see pocket gopher, and tucan.-one of several western american species of the genus spermophilus, of the family sciuridae; as, the gray gopher (spermophilus franklini) and the striped gopher (s. tridecemlineatus); -- called also striped prairie squirrel, leopard marmot, and leopard spermophile. see spermophile.-a large land tortoise (testudo carilina) of the southern united states, which makes extensive burrows.-a large burrowing snake (spilotes couperi) of the southern united states.