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Home/Species/ Panamint Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys panamintinus

(Merriam, 1894)

Panamint Kangaroo Rat

G4Apparently Secure Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.103384
Element CodeAMAFD03090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassMammalia
OrderRodentia
FamilyHeteromyidae
GenusDipodomys
Other Common Names
Panamint 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 Date2025-07-15
Change Date2025-07-15
Edition Date2025-07-15
Edition AuthorsGundy, R. L. (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
This species is endemic to the southwestern U.S. in eastern California and western Nevada. The population has declined due to habitat loss and habitat degradation.
Range Extent Comments
This species is endemic to the southwestern United States. It is found in east-central California, west-central Nevada, and southern Nevada from east of the Sierra Nevada to the Mojave Desert in southern California. There is a disjunct population in southeastern California and adjacent southern Nevada (Intress and Best 1990). Range extent is estimated to be 158,308 km² (GBIF 2025, RARECAT 2025).
Occurrences Comments
Using Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2025) records from 2000-2025, 51 occurrences are estimated (RARECAT 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Invasive plants, such as saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), reduce habitat quality (Longland 2014, Dimitri and Longland 2022). Climate change may be forcing this species to move to higher elevations where more food plants are available (Price et al. 2000). Habitat loss due to development and agriculture also causes localized declines.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Desert flats among Joshua trees, creosote bush scrub and pinyon-juniper woodland (Ingles 1965); also big sagebrush in west-central Nevada. Soil may be coarse sand, gravelly, alkaline, or crusty and impregnated with salts; avoids vicinity of cliffs and areas with desert pavement (Intres and Best 1990). When inactive, occupies burrow in mound at base of shrub.

Ecology

Solitary except when breeding. Home range size varies seasonally; average 0.4 ha, peak 1.2 ha (Intres and Best 1990).

Reproduction

Breeding season reportedly peaks in February or March, but pregnant females have been found also in late April and late May. Gestation lasts 29-30 days. Litter size is 3-4. Weaning period begins at 27-29 days. Young leave burrow at 28 days. Sexual activity begins at about 24-56 days. Possibly has increased need for water (in form of succulent vegetation) prior to reproduction. See Intres and Best (1990).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
NevadaS4Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
1 - Residential & commercial developmentSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
1.1 - Housing & urban areasSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber cropsSmall (1-10%)Extreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh - moderate
11.1 - Habitat shifting & alterationPervasive (71-100%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh - moderate

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Roadless Areas (2)
California (2)
AreaForestAcres
Mono CratersInyo National Forest7,115
Mt. JacksonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest20,721
References (35)
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  3. Baumgardner, G. D., and M. L. Kennedy. 1993. Morphometric variation in kangaroo rats (genus <i>Dipodomys</i>) and its relationship to selected abiotic variables. Journal of Mammalogy 74:69-85.
  4. Baumgardner, G. D., and M. L. Kennedy. 1994. Patterns of interspecific morphometric variation in kangaroo rats (genus <i>Dipodomys</i>). Journal of Mammalogy 75:203-211.
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