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Chaetodipus

From WhiskerWiki

Genus Chaetodipus
Taxonomic classification
Order:Rodentia
Suborder:Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:Castorimorphi
Superfamily:Geomyoidea
Family:Heteromyidae
Subfamily:Perognathinae

Chaetodipus is a genus of pocket mice that contains 21 recognized species. Eleven species are found in the United States and ten species are found only in Mexico.

Species in the United States

Species not pictured: Highland Coarse-haired Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus collis).

  • Bailey's Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus baileyi). The upper pelage is gray-brown with varying degrees of yellow wash.
  • California Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus californicus). Dorsal coloration ranges from pale brown to dark reddish-brown. Rump spines are present and pronounced.
  • Chihuahuan Desert Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus eremicus). Dorsal coloration ranges from buff to vinaceous buff.
  • San Diego Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus fallax). Upper parts of the pelage are rich brown, darker over the rump, and under parts are white or creamy white. Bristles on the rump are black, whereas those on the flank are white.
  • Long-tailed Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus formosus). Dorsal coloration ranges from brown to reddish-brown.
  • Hispid Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus). Dorsal coloration ranges from yellowish to reddish-buff.
  • Rock Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus intermedius). Dorsal coloration is highly variable in this species and depends largely on the color of the substrate, ranging from pale brown to brownish-black to black. Rump spines are present but may be difficult to detect.
  • Desert Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus penicillatus). Dorsal coloration ranges from gray to yellowish-brown to pinkish-brown.
  • Peninsular Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus rudinoris). Dorsal coloration varies from yellowish-gray to buffy ochre or pale buffy. The rump lacks spines. This is one of the largest species in the genus.
  • Spiny Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus spinatus). Upper parts are drab brown, with large and prominent spines on the rump, scattered on the flanks and sides, and often extending to the shoulders, and the underparts are buffy white.

Available taxon pages

The following subgenera are available on WhiskerWiki for this genus:


Range maps for species in the United States

Character comparison for Chaetodipus

Species Size Pelage appearance Postauricular patch Subaruicular spot Antitragus Tail bicolored Tail crest Tail tuft Rump spines Lateral lines Lateral line color
Chaetodipus baileyi large coarse absent when present, it is small lobed distinctly or indistinctly present present absent faint or absent buff
Chaetodipus californicus large coarse absent absent lobed distinctly present present present (and on flanks) present; wide orangish-yellow
Chaetodipus collis medium coarse absent present; white and small lobed distinctly or indistinctly present present present present ochraceous-buff, fawn-colored
Chaetodipus eremicus medium somewhat soft present; faint absent lobed distinctly present present absent faint or absent yellowish to ochraceous
Chaetodipus fallax medium coarse absent absent lobed distinctly present present present (and on flanks) present buff-colored
Chaetodipus formosus medium smooth absent present; white or buff lobed distinctly or indistinctly present present absent faint or absent ochraceous
Chaetodipus hispidus large coarse and hispid absent absent lobed distinctly absent absent absent present; wide ochraceous
Chaetodipus intermedius small to medium coarse absent absent lobed distinctly present present present; may be difficult to detect faint or absent ochraceous
Chaetodipus penicillatus small to medium smooth to coarse present; faint absent lobed distinctly present present absent faint or absent buff
Chaetodipus rudinoris large smooth absent when present, it is small lobed indistinctly present present absent present ochraceous
Chaetodipus spinatus medium to medium-large coarse present; faint present; small lobed distinctly or indistinctly present present present faint or absent buff

Images showing antitragus, rump spines, and location of the preauricular and postauricular spot are below this table.

  • Arrow points to the location of the postauricular patch of the Silky Pocket Mouse (Perognathus flavus).
  • Arrow points to the location of the subauricular patch of Silky Pocket Mouse (Perognathus flavus).
  • Arrow points to the lobed antitragus of the Rock Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus intermedius).
  • Arrow points to the rump spines (guard hairs) of the Spiny Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus spinatus).
  • Left arrow points to the tail tuft and down arrow points to the tail crest of the Rock Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus intermedius).
  • Arrow points to the wide, orangeish-yellow lateral line of the Hispid Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus); also note the distinctly bicolored tail of this species.
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