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Neotoma albigula

Hartley, 1894

White-throated Woodrat

G5Secure Found in 4 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.799195
Element CodeAMAFF08030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyCricetidae
GenusNeotoma
Synonyms
Neotoma variaBurt, 1932
Other Common Names
Rata Nopalera (ES) Un Ratón (ES) Western White-throated Woodrat (EN)
Concept Reference
Bradley, R. D., and M. R. Mauldin. 2016. Molecular data indicate a cryptic species in Neotoma albigula (Cricetidae: Neotominae) from northwestern Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy 97(1):187-199.
Taxonomic Comments
Neotoma albigula formerly included Neotoma leucodon (Edwards et al. 2001) and N. melanura (Bradley et al. 2016), both now regarded as a distinct species. Includes the Mexican (Turner Island) form, N. varia, considered distinct by Wilson and Reeder (1993).
Conservation Status
Review Date1996-11-12
Change Date1996-11-12
Range Extent Comments
Southeastern California, southern Nevada, southeastern Utah, southwestern Colorado, and western New Mexico south to northern Sinaloa and Chihuahua. Populations east of the Rio Grande and Rio Conchos now considered to be N. leucodon (Edwards et al. 2001).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Rocky cliffs and brushlands; creosote bush scrub; mesquite-yucca; rocky areas in pinyon-juniper woodland. When inactive, occupies elaborate den built among cactus, brush, or rocks, or in hollow tree or abandoned building. Young are born in nest within den.

Ecology

Home ranges may overlap, but nest areas defended. In Arizona, home range averaged about a few hundred sq m (see Macedo and Mares 1988).

Reproduction

May breed any time of year in Coahuila; probably more than 1 litter/year. Breeds January-July in southern California. Litter size is 1-3, usually 2 (Macedo and Mares 1988).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesertBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
ArizonaS5Yes
Navajo NationS5Yes
ColoradoS2Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
UtahS3Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
Roadless Areas (4)
Arizona (4)
AreaForestAcres
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Middle Dragoon RoadlessCoronado National Forest10,543
Santa RitaCoronado National Forest6,078
WhetstoneCoronado National Forest20,728
References (15)
  1. American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/
  2. Bradley, R. D., and M. R. Mauldin. 2016. Molecular data indicate a cryptic species in <i>Neotoma albigula</i> (Cricetidae: Neotominae) from northwestern Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy 97(1):187-199.
  3. Bradley, R. D., C. W. Edwards, L. L. Lindsey, J. R. Bateman, M. NB Cajimat, M. L. Milazzo, C. F. Fulhorst, M. D. Matocq, and M. R. Mauldin. 2022. Reevaluation of the phylogenetic relationships among Neotomini rodents (<i>Hodomys</i>, <i>Neotoma</i>, and <i>Xenomys</i>) and comments on the woodrat classification. Journal of Mammalogy 103(5):1221-1236.
  4. Burt, W. H. and R. P. Grossenheider. 1964. A field guide to the mammals. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.
  5. Edwards, C. W., C. F. Fulhorst, and R. D. Bradley. 2001. Molecular phylogenetics of the <i>Neotoma albigula</i> species group: further evidence of a paraphyletic assemblage. Journal of Mammology 82:267-279.
  6. Hall, E. R. 1981a. The Mammals of North America, second edition. Vols. I &amp; II. John Wiley &amp; Sons, New York, New York. 1181 pp.
  7. Hoffmeister, D. F. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. University of Arizona Press and Arizona Game and Fish Department. 602 pp.
  8. Ingles, L. G. 1965. Mammals of the Pacific States. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.
  9. Jones, J. K., Jr., R. S. Hoffman, D. W. Rice, C. Jones, R. J. Baker, and M. D. Engstrom. 1992a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1991. Occasional Papers, The Museum, Texas Tech University, 146:1-23.
  10. Macedo, R. H., and M. A. Mares. 1988. <i>Neotoma albigula</i>. Am. Soc. Mamm., Mamallian Species 310:1-7.
  11. Mammalian Species, nos. 1-604. Published by the American Society of Mammalogists.
  12. Schmidly, D. J. 1977. The mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas including Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. Texas A & M University Press, College Station.
  13. 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/.
  14. Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 2005. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Third edition. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. Two volumes. 2,142 pp. [As modified by ASM the Mammal Diversity Database (MDD) at https://www.mammaldiversity.org/index.html]
  15. Wilson, D. E., and S. Ruff. 1999. The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 750 pp.