Annotated checklist of the recent mammals of Nevada

2005·1.2 MB·English

by  Mantooth, Stacy James

Occasional Papers
Museum of Texas Tech University
Number 245 28 September 2005
Annotated Checklist of the Recent Mammals of Nevada
Stacy J. Mantooth and Brett R. Riddle
Nevada lies at the heart of the intermountain west Although recent publications have included the
in North America, and although it mainly occurs within mammals that occur in Nevada along with treatments
the Basin and Range physiographic province, it also of mammals from other states or regions (Cockrum
includes a small part of the Sierra Nevada province and Petryszyn 1994; Hall 1981; Ingles 1965; Kays and
(Figure 1). Geographically, the Mojave warm desert Wilson 2002; Wilson and Ruff 1999; Zeveloff 1988),
and aridlands occur in the south (C.H. Merriam’s Lower there has not been a comprehensive taxonomic and
Sonoran Life Zone, 1890), the Great Basin cold desert distributional update of the Recent mammals that oc¬
region occurs in the north (Upper Sonoran Life Zone), cur in Nevada. The aforementioned works, along with
and the high Sierra Nevada boreal-montane forest is in additional references for selected species, serve as the
the west, with an extensive network of mountain ranges basis for this current checklist. This list will serve an
and intervening basins crossing the state (Upper array of people interested in the mammals of Nevada,
Sonoran, Transition, and Boreal Life Zones). Each of from professional biologists to students to policy mak¬
these varied habitats captures unique faunal compo¬ ers.
nents and creates overlapping areas where species with
very different biogeographic and ecological histories Orders, families, and genera are arranged phylo-
intermingle, adding to the overall mammalian diversity genetically, following Baker et al. (2003), and species
within the state. within each genus are listed alphabetically. We also
follow the most recent taxonomic changes incorpo¬
Nevada is the subject of one of the most com¬ rated by Baker et al. (2003), and indicate these changes
prehensive and detailed surveys of state mammals, (synonymy) for convenience when comparing this list
Mammals of Nevada, by E.R. Hall (1946). This work to previously published works. For most species, we
was reprinted in 1995 with a new forward by T.E. have provided broad ecological descriptors of the habi¬
Lawlor, as well as a section entitled “Species Names tats in which the species occur. This checklist con¬
and Taxonomic Additions,” which updated the taxo¬ tains 131 species of Nevada mammals, including both
nomic information, but the original text and other in¬ naturally occurring (120) and introduced species (II,
formation presented in the original edition remained identified by an asterisk). Although no Nevada mam¬
unchanged. Nonetheless, the Mammals of Nevada “has mals are currently listed as federally “threatened and
long constituted the standard against which other state endangered,” the state does contain a number of en¬
surveys of mammals have been measured” (T.E. demic species and subspecies of mammals, often with
Lawlor, Mammals of Nevada, 1995: xiii). restricted ranges, indicating imminent conservation con-
2 Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University
Northern Basin and Range
HurntxXdt
Elko
Peffthing
Eureka
ChurchM
While Boo
V_____
Sierra N^LyonC* Central Basin aneft^ge
NevadaV'i,
tsmiHnWo
Uhcoln
100 Kilometers
Figure 1. County boundaries, physiographic provinces, and major rivers in Nevada. The
rivers (indicated by dark lines) are the Truckee River in the west, the Humboldt River in the
north, and the Colorado, Virgin, and Muddy rivers in the south.
Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals 3
cerns. We provide current information on the conser¬ Sorex vagrans (vagrant shrew)-Occurs near
vation status and priority ranking for selected species streams or marshy areas in central and western Ne¬
of Nevada mammals (Appendix 1), established by the vada. The subspecies is S. v. vagrans Baird 1858.
Nevada Natural Heritage Program (2004).
Notiosorex crawfordi (Crawford’s desert shrew)-
ORDER INSECTIVORA - INSECTIVORES Known from desert grasslands in southern Nevada.
Family Soricidae Kotler (1985) noted the northern extension of the dis¬
(Shrews) tribution of this species into at least Mineral County.
The subspecies is N. c. crawfordi (Coues 1877).
Sorex merriami (Merriam’s shrew)-Known from
sagebrush and mountain brush areas primarily in the Family Talpidae
western half of the state. Ports and MacAdoo (1986) (Moles)
note the occurrence of the species in Elko and Lincoln
counties. S. m. merriami Dobson 1890 is in the north¬ Scapanus latimanus (broad-footed mole)-Occurs
ernmost part of the state and S. m, leucogenys Osgood in moist soils along streams and in forests in extreme
1909 is known from the southwest, in Esmeralda western Nevada. S. 1. dilatus True 1894 occurs along
County. the western border north of Douglas County and S. I,
monoensis Grinnell 1918 occurs at the southern extent
Sorex monticolus (dusky or montane shrew)- of the range.
Occurs in mountain brush and along streams at higher
elevations in the high Sierra Nevada in western Ne¬ ORDER CHIROPTERA-BATS
vada and in the Ruby and Independence Mountains in Family Phyllostomidae
Elko County in the east (Alexander 1996). The sub¬ (Leaf-nosed Bats)
species is S. m. obscurus Merriam 1890. This subspe¬
cies is synonymous with S. obscurus obscurus and S. Macrotus californicus (California leaf-nosed bat)-
vagrans monticola. This colonial, cave-dwelling species occurs in Clark
County in the south. M. californicus Baird 1858 is
Sorex palustris (American water shrew)-Com- monotypic.
mon along mountain streams in the northern two-thirds
of the state. The subspecies is S. p. navigator (Baird Choeronycteris mexicana (Mexican long-tongued
1858). bat)-A single record of this very rare species is known
from Clark County (Constantine 1987). Choeronycteris
Sorex preblei (Preble’s shrew)-Known from mexicana Tschudi 1844 is a monotypic species.
Washoe County in the northwest (Hoffman and Fisher
1978) and Elko County in the northeast (Ports and Family Vespertilionidae
George 1990). These recent records considerably (Vespertilionid Bats)
extend the overall range of this species southward,
suggesting the distribution covers most of northern Myotis californicus (California myotis)-Known
Nevada. Sorex preblei Jackson 1922 is a monotypic from lower elevations in the deserts of western and
southern Nevada. The subspecies is M. c. stephensi
species.
Dalquest 1900. This subspecies was formerly recog¬
Sorex tenellus (Inyo shrew)-Found in the moun¬ nized as M. c. pallidus.
tains of western Nevada. S. tenellus Merriam 1895 is
a monotypic species. Myotis ciliolabrum (western small-footed
myotis)-Common and known from numerous locali¬
Sorex trowbridgii (Trowbridge’s shrew)-Known ties throughout the state. The subspecies is M, c.
from conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada of extreme melanorhinus (Merriam 1886). Recent synonyms for
western Nevada in Washoe County. The subspecies this species are M. subulatus and M. leibii.
is S. /. mariposae Grinell 1913.
4 Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University
Myotis evotis (long-eared myotis)-A solitary spe¬ (Thomas 1897) is a monotypic species (Baker et al.
cies found in forested mountain areas across the state. 1988).
The subspecies is M. e. evotis (H. Allen 1864) and
was recognized formerly as M. e. chrysonotus. Lasionycteris noctivagans (silver-haired bat)-
Occurs statewide and is primarily associated with larger
Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis)-Common pine tree species, although has been documented at
in the northern half of the state. The subspecies is M. lower elevations (Moapa Valley) during migratory pe¬
1. carissima Thomas 1904. riods (Bradley et al. 1965). Lasionycteris noctivagans
(LeConte 1831) is a monotypic species.
Myotis thysanodes (fringed myotis)-Occurs in a
variety of habitats but only known from a few locali¬ Pipistrellus hesperus (western pipistrelle)-Com-
ties in Nevada. It is expected to occur statewide in mon in deserts regions in the southern and western
suitable habitat. The subspecies is M. t. thysanodes portions of the state and extends to the northwest dur¬
Miller 1897. ing seasonal movements, as noted by recent captures
in Elko County (Ports and Bradley 1996). The sub¬
Myotis velifer(cave myotis)-Uncommon and has species is P. h. hesperus (H. Allen 1864).
been recorded only in extreme southern Nevada
(Cockrum 1964). The historic location of this species Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat)-Occurs state¬
has recently been relocated in the Lake Mead National wide. Eptesicus f bernardinus (Rhoads 1901) occurs
Recreation Area in Clark County (J. Williams, pers. in western Nevada, along the Sierra Nevada; and E, f
comm.). The subspecies is M. v. brevis Vaughn 1954. pallidus Young 1908 occurs in the remainder of the
state.
Myotis volans (long-legged myotis)-Common in
a variety of habitats and occurs statewide. The sub¬ Corynorhinus townsendii (Townsend’s big-eared
species isM v. interior Miller 1914. bat)-Distributed statewide and often found in caves
and mines. The subspecies is C. t. pallescens (Miller
Myotisyumanensis (Yuma myotis)-Found in close 1897). This species is placed in the genus Plecotus by
association with permanent water sources in the lower some authors (see Baker et al. 2003).
arid regions of southern and western Nevada. The
subspecies are: M. y. sociabilis H.W. Grinnell 1914 in Idionycteris phyllotis (Allen’s big-eared bat)-A
the extreme western and northwestern portions of the rare species that occurs in various montane forests of
state and M. y. yumanensis (H. Allen 1864) in the re¬ southern Nevada. The subspecies is I. p. hualapaiensis
mainder of the range. Tumlison 1993.
Lasiurus blossevillii (western red bat)-An un¬ Antrozouspallidus (pallid bat)-Common through¬
common species known from limited records in south¬ out the state. Ports and Bradley (1996) reported a north¬
ern Nevada and from along the Truckee River in the ward extension of the known range of this species
west. The subspecies is L. b. teliotis (Allen 1891). into White Pine and Elko counties. Antrozous pallidus
cantwelli Bailey 1936 occurs in the extreme north¬
Lasiurus cinereus (hoary bat)-This solitary spe¬ western corner of the state and A. p. pallidus (LeConte
cies, among the largest bats in North America, may be 1856) occurs in the western and southern areas of the
common throughout much of the state, but occur¬ range.
rences are not well documented. The subspecies is L.
c. cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois 1796). Euderma maculatum (spotted bat)-Recent
records indicate that this species is distributed through¬
Lasiurus xanthinus (western yellow bat}~Lasiurus out the low desert regions in the southern and western
xanthinus was first documented in Nevada in 2001 portions of the state, but has not yet been collected
from riparian habitats in the Moapa Valley in Clark from the central and northeastern areas (Geluso 2000;
County (O’Farrell et al. 2004). Lasiurus xanthinus Kuenzi et al. 1999; Szewczak et al. 1998). Euderma
maculatum is monotypic (J.A. Allen 1891).
Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals 5
Family Molossidae in the Pine Forest Mountains; O. p. sheltoni Grinnell
(Free-tailed Bats) 1918 in the White Mountains; and O. p. tutelata Hall
1934 in the Desatoya, Shoshone, Toiyabe, Toquima,
Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian free-tailed bat}- and Monitor ranges in central Nevada (Smith and
Known from multiple localities in the desert regions of Weston 1990).
the state and is most likely non-migratory in southern
Nevada. This species is probably found statewide, as Family Leporidae
evidenced by the recent range extensions into White (Hares and Rabbits)
Pine County in the east, noted by Ports and Bradley
(1996). The largest natural roost occurs in White Pine Brachylagus idahoensis (pygmy rabbit)-A small
County with an estimated 60,000 individuals during species, typical of dense sagebrush habitat across the
the late summer (J. Williams, pers. comm.). The sub¬ northern two-thirds of the state. Brachylagus
species is T. b. mexicana (Saussure 1860). idahoensis (Merriam 1891) is a monotypic species.
Nyctinomops macrotis (big free-tailed bat)-Origi- Sylvilagus audubonii (desert cottontail)-Known
nally known from only one specimen that lacked spe¬ from several localities at lower elevations in the south¬
cific locality data, additional specimens have since been ern portion of the state but the range may be expand¬
recorded in fall months in Clark County, though this ing northward. The subspecies is S. a. arizonae (Allen
species is still rare. Nyctinomops macrotis (Gray 1839) 1877).
is a monotypic species.
Sylvilagus nuttallii (mountain cottontail)-Occurs
Eumops perotis (western bonneted bat)-Only one at moderate to higher elevations in dense sage and for¬
specimen has been recorded from Clark County in ested areas. The subspecies are S. n. nuttallii
southern Nevada. The subspecies is E. p. californicus (Bachman 1837) in the northwestern corner of the
(Merriam 1890). state and S. n. grangeri (Allen 1895), which occurs in
the remainder of the state exclusive of lower eleva¬
ORDER PRIMATES - PRIMATES tions in the south and southwest.
Family Hominidae
(Great Apes and Humans) Lepus americanus (snowshoe hare)-Occurs in
dense shrub habitat in the Sierra Nevada in the west.
Homo sapiens (modern man)-Ubiquitous This species may also occur to a limited extent in the
throughout the state; two counties, Clark and Washoe, Jarbidge Mountains in the northeast. The subspecies
have populations greater than 200,000 individuals are L. a. tahoensis Orr 1933 in the west and L, a.
(Hardcastle 2000). bairdii Hayden 1869 in the northeast.
ORDER LAGAMORPHA - LAGOMORPHS Lepus californicus (black-tailed jackrabbit)-
Family Ochodontidae Abundant and found in a wide variety of habitats
(Pikas) throughout the state. The two subspecies are L, c.
deserticola Meams 1896, which is found across most
Ochotona princeps (American pika)~Found al¬ of the state with the exception of the northwestern
most exclusively on talus in alpine areas in Nevada. corner, where L. c. wallawalla Merriam 1904 occurs.
This species may be in decline with the possibility of
recent extirpation of multiple historic populations in Lepus townsendii (white-tailed jackrabbit)-Oc-
the Great Basin (Beever et al. 2003). Five subspecies curs at higher elevations in northeastern Nevada and
occur in the state: O. p. muiri Grinnell and Storer 1916 in the Sierra Nevada in the west. The subspecies is L.
in the Sierra Nevada; O. p. nevadensis Howell 1919 in t. townsendii Bachman 1839.
the Ruby Mountains; O.p. schisticeps (Merriam 1889)
6 Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University
ORDER RODENT1A - RODENTS Neotamias speciosus (lodgepole chipmunk)-
Family Aplodontidae Found in lodgepole pine forests in the Sierra Nevada in
(mountain beavers) western Nevada. The subspecies is N, s. frater (Allen
1890).
Aplodontia rufa (Sewellel or mountain beaver)-
Found along mountain streams in the Sierra Nevada in Neotamias senex (Allen’s chipmunk)-Distributed
the west. The subspecies is A. r. californica (Peters in coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada. Neotamias
1864). senex (J.A. Allen 1890) is a monotypic species.
Family Sciuridae Neotamias umbrinus (Uinta chipmunk)-Found in
(Squirrels) coniferous forests at moderate to high elevations in
the mountains of central and eastern Nevada. The
Neotamias amoenus (yellow-pine chipmunk)- subspecies are: N. u. nevadensis, which is confined to
Restricted to Ponderosa (yellow pine) and Jeffrey Pine the Sheep Mountains in Clark County and may now be
forests in the north. The subspecies are: N. a. amoenus extinct; and N. u. inyoensis (Merriam 1897) in the re¬
(Allen 1890) in western Washoe County and north- mainder of the range of this species.
central Elko County; N. a. celeries (Hall and Johnson
1940) in the Pine Forest Mountains in Humboldt Marmota flaviventris (yellow-bellied marmot)-
County; and N. a. monoensis (Grinnell and Storer 1916) Present in rocky areas in the northern half of the state.
in the Sierra Nevada. All Neotamias formerly were Four subspecies occur in Nevada: M. f flaviventris
placed in the genera Eutamias and Tamias. (Audubon and Bachman 1841) occurs in the Sierra
Nevada in the west; M. f nosophora Howell 1914
Neotamias dorsalis (cliff chipmunk)-Distributed occurs in the northeastern corner of the state; M. f
in pinon pine and juniper habitat in eastern and south¬ parvula Howell 1914 is found in the Toiyabe, Toquima,
ern Nevada. The subspecies are: N. d. grinnelli (Burt and Hot Creek Ranges in central Nevada; and M. f
1931) in the Sheep Mountains in Clark County, the avara (Bangs 1899) occurs in the remainder of the
Toiyabe Mountains in Nye and Lander counties, and range.
northward; and N, d. utahensis (Merriam 1897) along
the eastern border of the state. Ammospermophilus leucurus (white-tailed ante¬
lope squirrel)-Distributed in desert shrub habitats in
Neotamias minimus (least chipmunk)-Common the southern and western portions of the state, and
and known from multiple localities in sagebrush habi¬ recent records extend the distribution into north-cen¬
tat in the northern half of the state, exclusive of low¬ tral areas of the state (O’Farrell and Clark 1984). The
lands. The subspecies is N. m. scrutator (Hall and subspecies is^L /. leucurus (Merriam 1889).
Hatfield 1934).
Spermophilus beecheyi (California ground squir-
Neotamias palmeri (Palmer’s chipmunk)-Con- rel)-Common in a variety of habitats in western Ne¬
fined to the Spring Mountains in Clark County in south¬ vada from southern Washoe to Douglas County and
ern Nevada. Neotamias palmeri (Merriam 1897) is a east into Churchill County. The subspecies is S. b.
monotypic species. fisheri Merriam 1893.
Neotamias panamintinus (Panamint chipmunk)- Spermophilus beldingi (Belding’s ground squir-
Found in pinon-juniper regions along the southwest¬ rel)-Occurs in meadowlands in the western and north¬
ern edge of the state from Douglas County south to western edges of the state and in the central and north¬
Nye County. The subspecies is N. p. panamintinus eastern portions of the state. The subspecies are: S. b.
(Merriam 1893). oregonus Merriami 1898 in the northwest; S. b. beldingi
in the extreme western areas in the vicinity of Lake
Neotamias quadrimaculatus (long-eared chip- Tahoe; and S. b, crebrus (Hall 1940) in the central and
munk)-Occurs in shrubby openings in the coniferous northeastern areas.
forests in the Sierra Nevada. Neotamias
quadrimaculatus (Gray 1867) is a monotypic species.
Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals 7
Spermophilus canus (Columbia Plateau ground Family Geomyidae
squirrel)-Distributed in sagebrush areas in the north¬ (Pocket Gophers)
western corner of the state. Spermophilus canus
(Merriam 1898) is a monotypic species. Thomomys bottae (Botta’s pocket gopher)-Dis-
tributed in the lowlands of central, southern and west¬
Spermophilus elegans (Richardson’s ground ern Nevada. There are twenty recognized subspecies:
squirrel)-Found in sagebrush habitat in the northeast. T. b. canus Bailey 1910 near the Black Rock Desert in
The subspecies is S. e. nevadensis (Howell 1928). Pershing and Humboldt counties; T. b. depressus Hall
1932 near the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Churchill
Spermophilus lateralis (golden-mantled ground County; T. b. lucrificus Hall and Durham 1938 near
squirrel)-Present in open forests and on rock slides Eastgate in Churchill County; T. b. cinereus Hall 1932
throughout mountainous regions of the state. The three in the valleys of East Walker River, West Walker River,
subspecies are: S. I chrysodeirus (Merriam 1890) in and Walker River in Lyon County to Walker Lake in
the Sierra Nevada in the extreme western portion of Mineral County; T. b. lacrymalis Hall 1932 from Fish
the state; S. 1. certus (Goldman 1931) in the Spring Lake Valley in Esmeralda County north to Walker Lake
Mountains in Clark County; and S. I trepidus (Taylor in Esmeralda and Lyon counties; T. b. solitarius
1910) in the southwest, northwest, and northeastern Grinnell 1926 in eastern Mineral and northern Esmeralda
portions of Nevada. County; T. b. fumosus Hall 1932 in the Great Smoky
Valley to the southern end of the Toiyabe Mountains in
Spermophilus mollis (Great Basin ground squir- western Nye County; T. b. curtatus Hall 1932 from
rel)-Ranges in sagebrush areas throughout the Great San Antonia in Nye County; T. b. vescus Hall and Davis
Basin in the northern two-thirds of the state, except in 1935 in the Toquima Mountains in Nye County; T, b.
the northwestern corner. Spermophilus mollis concisor Hall and Davis 1935 in Monitor Valley in Nye
(Kennicott 1863) is a monotypic species. County; T. b. abstrusus Hall and Davis 1935 from the
northern end of Fish Valley in Nye County; I b.
Spermophilus tereticaudus (round-tailed ground brevidens Hall 1932 in central Nye County; T. b. latus
squirrel)-Occurs in the desert habitat in southern Ne¬ Hall and Davis 1940 in Steptoe Valley in White Pine
vada. The subspecies is S, t. tereticaudus Baird 1857. County; T. b. centralis Hall 1930 from southern White
Pine County south across eastern Nevada, excluding
Spermophilus variegatus (rock squirrel)-Com- the Virgin River Valley; T. b. virgineus Goldman 1937
mon in southeastern Nevada. The subspecies are: S. in the Virgin River Valley; T. b. nanus Hall 1932 in the
v. Utah (Merriam 1903) in the south; and S. v. robustus Quinn Canyon Mountains in Lincoln and Nye coun¬
(Durrant and Hansen 1954) in the northern portion of ties; T. b, phelleoecus Burt 1933 in the Sheep Moun¬
the range. tains in Clark County; T. b. melanotis Grinnell 1918 on
Mount Magruder in southern Esmeralda County; T. b.
Sciurus griseus (western gray squirrel)-Known oreoecus Burt 1932 in the Grapevine Mountains in
from limited localities in Jeffrey pine forests in the southern Nye County; and T. b. providentialis Grinnell
Sierra Nevada in western Nevada. The subspecies is 1931 in southern Clark County exclusive of the Colo¬
S. g. griseus (Ord 1818). rado River Valley.
Tamiasciurus douglasii (Douglas’ squirrel)- Thomomys monticola (mountain pocket gopher)-
Found in coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada in Found in forest meadows in the Sierra Nevada in
the west. The subspecies is T. d. albolimbatus (Allen Washoe, Carson City, and Douglas counties. The sub¬
1898). species is T. m. monticola Allen 1893.
Glaucomys sabrinus (northern flying squirrel)- Thomomys talpoides (northern pocket gopher)-
Occurs in coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada at Occurs in a variety of habitats in northern Nevada and
the western edge of the state. The subspecies is G 5. in the Sierra Nevadas. The subspecies are: T. /. quadra-
lascivus (Bangs 1899). tus Merriam 1897 in the extreme northwest; T. t. gra¬
cilis Durrant 1939 in the northeast; T t.fisheri Merriam
8 Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University
1901 in southern Washoe County in the west; T. t. penicillatus Woodhouse 1852 along the southern ex¬
monoensis Huey 1934 along the western border of the tent of the Colorado River.
state from Douglas to Esmeralda County; and T. t.
falcifer Grinnell 1926 in the central portion of the state. Chaetodipus spinatus (spiny pocket mouse)-
Occurs in extreme southern Nevada. The subspecies
Thomomys townsendii (Townsend’s pocket go- is C. 5. spinatus (Merriam 1889).
pher)-Distributed in the Humboldt River valley and as¬
sociated waterways in northern Nevada. The subspe¬ Microdipodops megacephalus (dark kangaroo
cies is T. t. nevadensis Merriam 1897. T. t. elkoensis is mouse)-Distributed in fine, gravely soils throughout
a synonym of T. t. nevadensis (Verts and Carroway the northern two-thirds of the state. Nine subspecies
2003). occur in the state: M. m. oregonus Merriam 1901 oc¬
curs in the northwestern corner; M. m. californicus
Family Heteromyidae Merriam 1901 in southern Washoe and Douglas coun¬
(Pocket Mice, Kangaroo Mice and Kangaroo Rats) ties; M. m. nasutus Hall 1941 in Mineral County; M.
m. ambiguous Hall 1941 from southern Humboldt to
Perognathus longimembris (little pocket mouse)- southern Washoe counties; M. m. medius Hall 1941 in
Occurs in sandy areas associated with creosote and southwestern Pershing County; M. m. nexus Hall 1941
sagebrush throughout the state, exclusive of the cen¬ in southestern Humboldt and northwestern Lander
tral-eastern and northeastern portions of the state. The counties; M. m. megacephalus Merriam 1891, widely
subspecies are: P. l. nevadensis (Merriami 1894) in distributed across central and northeastern Nevada;
the central and northwestern areas; P l. panamintinus M. m. sabulonis Hall 1941 in the south-central area;
(Merriam 1894) in western Nevada from southern and M. m. albiventer Hall and Durrant 1937 in central
Humboldt County south to Clark County; P. 1. virginis Lincoln County. Medica (1990) has reported on the
Huey 1939 in the Virgin River Valley in Lincoln and extension of the known distribution of this species to
Nye counties; and P. 1. gulosus Hall 1941 along the the southwest in Nye County.
eastern border of the state in White Pine and Elko coun¬
ties. Microdipodops pallidus (pale kangaroo mouse)-
Occurs in fine sandy soils in the southwest and south-
Perognathus parvus (Great Basin pocket mouse)- central portions of the state and eastward into Nye
Common and widespread from northern Clark County and Lincoln counties. The four subspecies are: M. p.
north throughout the state. The subspecies are: P p. pallidus Merriam 1901 from southern Pershing County
parvus (Peale 1848) in the extreme northwestern cor¬ to Lander County; M. p. ruficollaris Hall 1941 from
ner of the state; and P. p. olivaceous Merriam 1889 western Nye to western Lincoln County; M. p.
across the remainder of the range. ammophilus Hall 1941 in eastern Nye County; and M.
p. purus Hall 1941 in western Lincoln County.
Chaetodipus formosus (long-tailed pocket
mouse)-Distributed in lowlands and valleys in west¬ Dipodomys californicus (California kangaroo
ern and southern Nevada as well as White Pine County rat)-Known only from a single specimen collected in
in the east. The subspecies are: C.f. melanurus (Hall Washoe County, in extreme northwest Nevada (Stangl
1941) in Humboldt, Pershing, and Washoe counties; et al. 1999); this record may indicate an accidental
C.f mohavensis (Huey 1938) in the southwestern and occurrence. The subspecies is D. c. californicus
southern portions of the state; and C.f. incolatus (Hall Merriam 1890.
1941) on Mount Moriah in eastern White Pine County.
Dipodomys deserti (desert kangaroo rat)-Distrib-
Chaetodipus penicillatus (Sonoran desert pocket uted in sandy desert habitat in southern and western
mouse)-Restricted to sandy soils in Clark County in parts of the state. The subspecies are: D. d. aquilus
southern Nevada. The subspecies are: C p. sobrinus Nader 1965 in Humboldt, Pershing, and Washoe coun¬
(Goldman 1939) along the Muddy, Virgin, and Colo¬ ties; and D. d. deserti Stephens 1887, which occurs
rado Rivers north of Hoover Dam; and C. p from Churchill County south to Clark County.
Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals 9
Dipodomys merriami (Merriam’s kangaroo rat)- were taken from Idaho and Oregon populations (Tappe
Found in the desert valleys of southern and western 1942), making subspecific designation of this intro¬
Nevada. The subspecies is D. m. merriami Meams duced variant difficult. The subspecies are: C. c. taylori
1890. Davis 1939 in the Snake River drainage; C. c. baileyi
Nelson 1927 in the Humboldt River valley; and C. c.
Dipodomys microps (chisel-toothed kangaroo repentinus Goldman 1932 in the Colorado River drain¬
rat)~Occurs in sagebrush and creosote areas exclu¬ age.
sive of the Humboldt and Colorado River areas. The
five subspecies are: D. m, preblei (Goldman 1921) in Family Muridae
northern Washoe and northern Humboldt County; D. (Mice, Rats, Voles, and Muskrats)
m. aquilonius (Willett 1935) in central Washoe County;
D. m. centralis Hall and Dale 1939, found from south¬ Reithrodontomys megalotis (western harvest
eastern Humboldt south to central Nye County; D. m. mouse)-Common in grasslands throughout the state.
occidentalis Hall and Dale 1939 in the southwest in The subspecies is R. m. megalotis (Baird 1857).
Nye, western Lincoln and Clark counties; and D. m.
bonnevillei Goldman 1937 in western Elko and White Peromyscus boylii (brush mouse)-Rare in brushy
Pine counties. areas along streams near the Sierra Nevada in the west
and in the southern portion of the state. The subspe¬
Dipodomys ordii (Ord’s kangaroo rat)-Distrib- cies are: P. b. boylii (Baird 1855) near Lake Tahoe in
uted in sagebrush and creosote habitats across the the west; and P. b. rowleyi (Allen 1893) in Clark and
northern two-thirds of the state. Five subspecies oc¬ Lincoln counties in the south.
cur in Nevada: D. o. inaquosus Hall 1941 in southeast¬
ern Humboldt and northern Lander counties; D. o. Peromyscus crinitus (canyon mouse)-Found in
celeripes Durrant and Hall 1939 at the western edge of rocky habitat across the entire state. The subspecies
the state in Elko and White Pine counties; D. o, are: P. c. crinitus (Merriam 1891) in the western half
monoensis (Grinnell 1919), from Pershing to central of the state; P c. pergracilis (Goldman 1939) in White
Esmeralda County; D. o. fetosus Durrant and Hall 1939 Pine, Elko, and Eureka counties in the east; and P c.
in eastern Nye and northern Lincoln County; and D. o. stephensif Mearns 1897 in the southern half of the state.
columbianus (Merriam 1894), common throughout the
remainder of the range. Peromyscus eremicus (cactus mouse)-Distributed
in the desert lowlands of southern Nevada. The sub¬
Dipodomys panamintinus (Panamint kangaroo species is P e. eremicus (Baird 1857).
rat)-Found in sagebrush and pifion juniper habitats in
western Nevada. The subspecies are: D. p. caudatus Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse)-Ubiqui-
Hall 1946 in western Clark County in the south; and tous throughout the state. The subspecies are: P m.
D p. leucogenys (Grinnell 1919) from southern gambelii (Baird 1857) in northwestern Nevada; and P.
Washoe to western Mineral County. m. sonoriensis (LeConte 1853) in the remainder of the
state.
Family Castoridae
(Beavers) Peromyscus truei (pinon mouse)-Occurs in
rocky, pifion-juniper areas across the southern two-
Castor canadensis (American beaver)-Naturally thirds of the state, with recent extensions of known
occurs in streams and lakes in northeastern Nevada range northward in Nevada (O’Farrell and Clark 1984).
and southern Nevada. This species was introduced The subspecies are: P t. truei (Shufeldt 1885) in west¬
into the Sierra Nevada region and Truckee River Basin ern and southern Nevada; and P t. nevadensis Hall
in California in the 1930s and 1940s, which was fol¬ and Hoffmeister 1940 in Elko, White Pine, and Lin¬
lowed by subsequent range expansion into Nevada coln counties in the east.
(Beier and Barrett 1989). The introduced individuals
10 Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University
Onychomys leucogaster (northern grasshopper Mus musculus* (house mouse)-Introduced spe¬
mouse)-Occurs at moderate elevations in the north¬ cies found throughout the state.
ern half of the state. The subspecies is 0. I brevicaudus
Merriam 1891; Onychomys l. fuscogriseus is a syn¬ Phenacomys intermedius (western heather vole)-
onym. Distributed in grassy or open areas in coniferous for¬
ests in the Sierra Nevada in western Nevada. The
Onychomys torridus (southern grasshopper subspecies is P. i. celsus Howell 1923.
mouse)-Found in the lowlands of southern and west¬
ern Nevada. The subspecies are: O. t. pulcher Elliot Microtus longicaudus (long-tailed vole)-Occurs
1903 at the extreme southern tip of the state in Clark in grassy, herbaceous areas and aspen thickets in the
County; and 0. t. longicaudus Merriam 1889 in the northern two-thirds of the state. The three subspe¬
remainder of the range. cies are: M. 1. mordax (Merriam 1891) along the north¬
ern border of the state and into northern White Pine
Sigmodon arizonae (Arizona cotton rat)-Histori- County; M. 1. sierrae Kellogg 1922 in the Sierra Ne¬
cally occurred along the Colorado River at the extreme vada south into Douglas County; and M. 1. latus Hall
southern tip of the state in Clark County, though the 1931 in the remainder of the range.
available habitat may have been destroyed with the
formation of Lake Mead. The subspecies is S. a. plenus Microtus montanus (montane vole)-Distributed
Goldman 1938. in moist, grassy areas and meadows in the northern
half of the state and in central Lincoln and southern
Neotoma cinerea (bushy-tailed woodrat)-Found Nye County. There are six subspecies in Nevada: M.
in forests in the northern half of the state and south¬ m.fucosus Hall 1935 in Pahranagat Valley in Lincoln
ward along the western border into southern Nevada. County; M. m. micropus Hall 1935 in the northern half
The subspecies are: N. c. alticola Flooper 1940 in the of the state; M. m. montanus (Peale 1848) from Pyra¬
north; N. c. acraia (Elliot 1903) from the Sierra Ne¬ mid Lake in southern Washoe County south to
vada across the central and western parts of the state Esmeralda County; M. m. nanus in the extreme north¬
and south to the Sheep Mountains in Clark County; eastern corner of Elko County; M. m. nevadensis
and N. c, lucida Goldman 1917 in the Spring Moun¬ Bailey 1898 in Ash Meadows in Nye County; and M.
tains in Clark County. m. undosis Hall 1935 along the lower Humboldt River.
Neotoma lepida (desert woodrat)-Common in Lemmiscus curtatus (sagebrush vole)-Found in
rocky habitats throughout the state. The subspecies the northern two-thirds of the state in sagebrush habi¬
are: N. 1. nevadensis Taylor 1910 in the northwest; N. tat. The subspecies are: L. c. curtatus from Nye County
1. grinnelli Hall 1942 in southern Clark County; and N. west along the western border of the state; and L. c,
1. lepida Thomas 1893 across the majority of the state. intermedius in the central and northern areas.
Rattus norvegicus* (Norway rat)-Introduced and Ondatra zibethicus (common muskrat)-Occurs
occurs throughout the state in association with Homo near marshes, lakes, and streams in southern, west¬
sapiens. The subspecies is R. n. norvegicus ern, and northeastern Nevada. The subspecies are: 0.
(Berkenhout 1769). z. bernardi Goldman 1932 along the Colorado River in
the south; 0. z. goldmani Huey 1938 along the Virgin
Rattus rattus * (black rat)-Introduced and known River in the south; 0. z, osoyoosensis (Lord 1863) in
only in the vicinity of Reno in Washoe County and northern Elko County along the Snake River and asso¬
near Las Vegas in Clark County. The subspecies is R. ciated waterways; and 0, z. mergens (Hollister 1910)
r alexandrinus (Geoffroy 1803). in western Nevada and in northern Nevada along the
Humboldt River and southward along the Reese River,