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Home/Species/ Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys microps

(Merriam, 1904)

Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat

G5Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102909
Element CodeAMAFD03020
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyHeteromyidae
GenusDipodomys
Other Common Names
chisel-toothed kangaroo rat (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/.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-07-14
Change Date1996-11-08
Edition Date2025-07-14
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species is widespread in the southwestern U.S. The population appears to be stable and no major rangewide threats are known at this time.
Range Extent Comments
This species is found in the Great Basin of the western United States. Is is found in nearly the entire Great Basin from southwestern Idaho (Raft River Valley, Cassia County; Elmore Desert, Elmore County) and southeastern Oregon through eastern California, Nevada, and western Utah to southern California and northern Arizona, west to the Sierra Nevada, and east to the Wasatch Mountains. It is generally found at moderate elevations but recorded up to 3200 m in Inyo County, California. There is a discontinuous relict distribution in San Bernardino County, California. Limits of subspecies preblei and idahoensis in Oregon, celsus and leucotis in Arizona, and celsus and occidentalis in Nevada are uncertain (Hoffmeister 1986, Hayssen 1991). Range extent is estimated to be 420,529 km² (GBIF 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
There are many occurrences throughout the range.
Threat Impact Comments
No major rangewide threats are known at this time. Loss of plant cover causes localized declines and replacement by other species of kangaroo rats that prefer open habitats (Beatley 1976).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Desert valleys dominated by saltbush/shadscale (ATRIPLEX CONFERTIFOLIA) throughout most of range; blackbush (COLEOGYNE RAMOSISSIMA) zone along the southern edge of its range; in southern Nevada, most abundant in COLEOGYNE and GRAYIA/LYCIUM communities; also occurs in other types of shrubby communites. Occurs on rocky slopes in some areas. Rarely has been captured on sand dunes. See Hayssen (1991) for further habitat information. Nests are in underground burrows that typically open near the base of shrubs.

Ecology

Basically solitary. Reported average home range size varies from less than 1 ha to about 5 ha (see Hayssen 1991). Reported population density: up to about 7/ha in Nevada, to 34/ha in Utah. Most abundant in spring and early summer. A major primary consumer and prey item for carnivores. Life span averages just over a year.

Reproduction

In Inyo County, California, mating usually occurs from February to mid-March, with births from March to mid-April or sometimes later. Pregnant females occur from April to June in Nevada. Gestation lasts 30-34 days. Single litter of 1-4 (most often 2), though under exceptionally good conditions a few may produce 2 litters/year. Juveniles typically do not mature sexually in season of birth in southeastern California (Kenagy and Bartholomew 1985).
Terrestrial Habitats
Shrubland/chaparralDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS5Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS4Yes
IdahoS4Yes
UtahS3Yes
ArizonaS3Yes
Navajo NationS1Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
No known threats———

—

Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
References (42)
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