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Microdipodops pallidus

Merriam, 1901

Pale Kangaroo Mouse

G3Vulnerable Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103796
Element CodeAMAFD02020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyHeteromyidae
GenusMicrodipodops
Other Common Names
pale kangaroo mouse (EN)
Concept Reference
Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.
Taxonomic Comments
The sibling species M. megacephalus and M. pallidus are believed to represent rather ancient lineages that diverged about 8 million years ago (Hafner et al. 2007).
Conservation Status
Review Date2006-04-07
Change Date2000-03-13
Edition Date2006-04-07
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G., and J. Morefield
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent5000-200,000 square km (about 2000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Small range in southwestern Nevada and extreme eastern California.
Range Extent Comments
Range encompasses the Great Basin region of west-central and south-central Nevada, extreme eastern Mono county, California, and a disjunct area in Deep Spring Valley, Inyo County, California (Hall 1946, O'Farrell and Blaustein 1974, Williams et al. 1993), mostly on fine sandy valley bottoms at elevations of about 1,200-1,750 meters (1,530-1,590 meters in California). The distribution comprises several disjunct geographic units.
Occurrences Comments
Hall (1946) mapped about 42 collection sites in Nevada; these likely represent at least a few dozen distinct occurrences or subpopulations.
Threat Impact Comments
Some Microdipodops populations have declined as a result of introduction of weedy grasses and extreme habitat alteration from cultivation (e.g., irrigation of dry sinks) (Hafner et al. 1998). In addition to these human-related habitat changes, apparently natural shifts in vegetative zones have resulted in the replacement of rodent communities including Microdipodops by those including Dipodomys deserti, and vice versa (J. C. Hafner, pers. obs.). Natural and human-related habitat modifications may have amplified effects on the already fragmented, patchy distribution of Microdipodops (Hafner et al. 1998).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

This small mouse (total length 150-173 mm) is light pinkish cinnamon above, with hairs white to the base on the belly and underside of the tail; tail is thickest in the middle and lacks a terminal tuft and other conspicuous markings; incisors are not grooved; hindfoot has hair on the sole (Whitaker 1996).

Diagnostic Characteristics

Microdipodops megacephalus (total length 148-177 mm) is blackish or dark grayish above, with hairs gray at the base, and white below; tail has a black tip (Whitaker 1996).

Habitat

Habitat is nearly restricted to fine sands in alkali sink and desert scrub dominated by Atriplex confertifolia (shadscale) or Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush). This mouse often burrows in areas of soft, windblown sand piled at the bases of shrubs.

Reproduction

Pregnant individuals recorded from 29 March to 22 September. Litter size reported to range from 2-6 with a mean of 3.9.
Terrestrial Habitats
Desert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS2Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquaculture——High (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops——High (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases——High (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases——High (continuing)
8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases——High (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (1)
Nevada (1)
AreaForestAcres
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
References (36)
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  3. Blair, W. F. 1943. Populations of the deer mouse and associated small mammals in the mesquite associations of southern New Mexico. Contributions of the Laboratory of Vertebrate Biology, University of Michigan, No. 21. 40 pp.
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