Home/Species/ Northwestern Jumping Mouse

Zapus saltator

Allen, 1893

Northwestern Jumping Mouse

GNRUnranked Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →

GNRUnrankedGlobal Rank

Identity

Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1259390

Element CodeAMAFH01070

Record TypeSPECIES

ClassificationSpecies

Classification StatusStandard

Name CategoryVertebrate Animal

Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations

KingdomAnimalia

PhylumCraniata

ClassMammalia

OrderRodentia

FamilyZapodidae

GenusZapus

Concept Reference

Malaney, J. L., J. R. Demboski, and J. A. Cook. 2017. Integrative species delimitation of the widespread North American jumping mice (Zapodinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 114:137-152.

Taxonomic Comments

Following the American Society of Mammalogists (ASM 2024) and Malaney et al. (2017), Zapus princeps saltator is elevated to species status. Malaney et al. (2017) used spatial, genetic, and ecological divergence to redefine the Zapus princeps species complex. ASM recognizes four subspecies, minor (this name may have priority), saltator, kootenayensis, and idahoensis. It may include part of utahensis. It also includes a distinct species "okanoganensis," which is a nomen nudum until the name is officially described. Moved from Dipodidae to Zapodidae by Lebedev et al. (2012).

Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Western jumping mice are found in high mountain meadows to lowland riparian streamsides, ponds, and marshes with a dense cover of tall grasses and herbs. They hibernate underground in a dry nest chamber (Wilson and Ruff 1999, MacDonald 2003).

Terrestrial Habitats

Grassland/herbaceous

Palustrine Habitats

HERBACEOUS WETLANDRiparian

Other Nations (2)

CanadaNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Alberta	S5	Yes
British Columbia	S5	Yes
Saskatchewan	S4	Yes
Yukon Territory	S2	Yes
Manitoba	S3	Yes

United StatesNNR

Province	Rank	Native
Montana	S5	Yes
North Dakota	SNR	Yes
South Dakota	SNR	Yes
Wyoming	SNR	Yes
Alaska	SNR	Yes
Washington	SNR	Yes
Idaho	S4	Yes

Roadless Areas (10)

Montana (6)

Area	Forest	Acres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - Swan	Lewis and Clark National Forest	344,022
Evans Gulch	Lolo National Forest	8,059
Maple Peak	Lolo National Forest	6,469
Mt. Hefty Ra 1481	Flathead National Forest	12,938
Thompson Seton RA 1483	Flathead National Forest	52,235
Tuchuck Ra 1482	Flathead National Forest	17,730

Washington (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Long Draw	Okanogan National Forest	3,922
Tiffany	Okanogan National Forest	22,045

Wyoming (2)

Area	Forest	Acres
Pacific Creek - Blackrock Creek	Bridger-Teton National Forest	24,658
Spread Creek - Gros Ventre River	Bridger-Teton National Forest	166,097

References (5)

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/
Lebedev, V. S., A. A. Bannikova, M. Pagès, J. Pisano, J. R. Michaux, and G. I. Shenbrot. 2012. Molecular phylogeny and systematics of Dipodoidea: a test of morphology-based hypotheses. Zoologica Scripta 42(3):231–249.
MacDonald, S.O. 2003. The small mammals of Alaska: a field handbook of the shrews and small rodents. Draft 22 May 2003.
Malaney, J. L., J. R. Demboski, and J. A. Cook. 2017. Integrative species delimitation of the widespread North American jumping mice (Zapodinae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 114:137-152.
Wilson, D. E., and S. Ruff. 1999. The Smithsonian book of North American mammals. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 750 pp.