Microdipodops pallidus

Pale Kangaroo Mouse

Family: Heteromyidae · Class: Mammalia · Order: Rodentia

The pale kangaroo mouse is a small, specialized rodent endemic to western Nevada with minimal presence in eastern California. Adults measure 6.0 to 7.2 cm (2.4 to 2.8 inches) in body length, with a tail length of 9.5 to 10.4 cm (3.7 to 4.1 inches), making the tail significantly longer than the body. Total length ranges from 15.5 to 17.6 cm (6.1 to 6.9 inches). Adults weigh between 10 to 17 grams (0.35 to 0.6 ounces). The species displays pale gray to buff-colored dorsal fur with white underparts. The large hind feet are adapted for bipedal locomotion, measuring 28 to 32 mm in length. The species has large eyes and ears, typical adaptations for nocturnal desert life. The tail is bicolored with a dark dorsal stripe and white ventral surface, ending in a distinct tuft. The pale kangaroo mouse has an extremely limited distribution, occurring primarily in Churchill County, Nevada, with small populations extending into Mono County, California. The species' range covers approximately 2,600 square kilometers, making it one of North America's most geographically restricted mammals. In California, populations are documented only in the Mono Lake basin area of Mono County. The species occurs at elevations ranging from 1,200 to 2,100 meters (3,900 to 6,900 feet). This species inhabits arid shrublands dominated by shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) and greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) plant communities. Optimal habitat consists of sandy soils with sparse vegetation cover, typically less than 25 percent. The species requires fine-textured, wind-blown soils that allow for efficient burrowing. Microhabitat preferences include areas with scattered shrubs providing cover and foraging opportunities, while avoiding dense vegetation or rocky substrates. Pale kangaroo mice are strictly nocturnal and solitary outside the breeding season. The species exhibits saltatory locomotion, moving primarily through bipedal hopping using enlarged hind limbs. They are granivorous, feeding almost exclusively on small seeds from shrubs and forbs, particularly those from shadscale and other chenopod species. Seeds are cached in shallow surface stores rather than deep burrows. Breeding occurs from April through August, with females producing one to two litters annually. Gestation lasts approximately 30 days, with litter sizes ranging from two to four young. The species enters a state of reduced activity during winter months but does not hibernate. The pale kangaroo mouse is not federally listed under the Endangered Species Act but faces significant conservation challenges due to its restricted range and specialized habitat requirements. The Nevada Department of Wildlife classifies the species as a priority species for conservation. Primary threats include habitat loss from urban development, off-road vehicle activity, and livestock grazing. Climate change poses additional risks through altered precipitation patterns and increased temperatures. The species' extremely limited distribution makes populations vulnerable to local extinctions from stochastic events. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection and monitoring of known populations across the species' narrow range.

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, and more.