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
in North America, and although it mainly occurs within
the Basin and Range physiographic province, it also
includes a small part of the Sierra Nevada province
(Figure 1). Geographically, the Mojave warm desert
and aridlands occur in the south (C.H. Merriam’s Lower
Sonoran Life Zone, 1890), the Great Basin cold desert
region occurs in the north (Upper Sonoran Life Zone),
and the high Sierra Nevada boreal-montane forest is in
the west, with an extensive network of mountain ranges
and intervening basins crossing the state (Upper
Sonoran, Transition, and Boreal Life Zones). Each of
these varied habitats captures unique faunal compo¬
nents and creates overlapping areas where species with
very different biogeographic and ecological histories
intermingle, adding to the overall mammalian diversity
within the state.

Nevada is the subject of one of the most com¬
prehensive and detailed surveys of state mammals,
Mammals of Nevada, by E.R. Hall (1946). This work
was reprinted in 1995 with a new forward by T.E.
Lawlor, as well as a section entitled “Species Names
and Taxonomic Additions,” which updated the taxo¬
nomic information, but the original text and other in¬
formation presented in the original edition remained
unchanged. Nonetheless, the Mammals of Nevada “has
long constituted the standard against which other state
surveys of mammals have been measured” (T.E.
Lawlor, Mammals of Nevada, 1995: xiii).

Although recent publications have included the
mammals that occur in Nevada along with treatments
of mammals from other states or regions (Cockrum
and Petryszyn 1994; Hall 1981; Ingles 1965; Kays and
Wilson 2002; Wilson and Ruff 1999; Zeveloff 1988),
there has not been a comprehensive taxonomic and
distributional update of the Recent mammals that oc¬
cur in Nevada. The aforementioned works, along with
additional references for selected species, serve as the
basis for this current checklist. This list will serve an
array of people interested in the mammals of Nevada,
from professional biologists to students to policy mak¬
ers.

Orders, families, and genera are arranged phylo-
genetically, following Baker et al. (2003), and species
within each genus are listed alphabetically. We also
follow the most recent taxonomic changes incorpo¬
rated by Baker et al. (2003), and indicate these changes
(synonymy) for convenience when comparing this list
to previously published works. For most species, we
have provided broad ecological descriptors of the habi¬
tats in which the species occur. This checklist con¬
tains 131 species of Nevada mammals, including both
naturally occurring (120) and introduced species (II,
identified by an asterisk). Although no Nevada mam¬
mals are currently listed as federally “threatened and
endangered,” the state does contain a number of en¬
demic species and subspecies of mammals, often with
restricted ranges, indicating imminent conservation con-

2

Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Peffthing

ChurchM

100 Kilometers

Northern Basin

and Range

HurntxXdt

Elko

Eureka

While Boo

V_____

Sierra N^LyonC* Central Basin aneft^ge

NevadaV'i,

tsmiHnWo

Uhcoln

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¬
vation status and priority ranking for selected species
of Nevada mammals (Appendix 1), established by the
Nevada Natural Heritage Program (2004).

ORDER INSECTIVORA - INSECTIVORES
Family Soricidae

(Shrews)

Sorex merriami (Merriam’s shrew)-Known from
sagebrush and mountain brush areas primarily in the
western half of the state. Ports and MacAdoo (1986)
note the occurrence of the species in Elko and Lincoln
counties. S. m. merriami Dobson 1890 is in the north¬
ernmost part of the state and S. m, leucogenys Osgood
1909 is known from the southwest, in Esmeralda
County.

Sorex monticolus (dusky or montane shrew)-
Occurs in mountain brush and along streams at higher
elevations in the high Sierra Nevada in western Ne¬
vada and in the Ruby and Independence Mountains in
Elko County in the east (Alexander 1996). The sub¬
species is S. m. obscurus Merriam 1890. This subspe¬
cies is synonymous with S. obscurus obscurus and S.
vagrans monticola.

Sorex palustris (American water shrew)-Com-
mon along mountain streams in the northern two-thirds
of the state. The subspecies is S. p. navigator (Baird
1858).

Sorex preblei (Preble’s shrew)-Known from
Washoe County in the northwest (Hoffman and Fisher
1978) and Elko County in the northeast (Ports and
George 1990). These recent records considerably
extend the overall range of this species southward,
suggesting the distribution covers most of northern
Nevada. Sorex preblei Jackson 1922 is a monotypic
species.

Sorex tenellus (Inyo shrew)-Found in the moun¬
tains of western Nevada. S. tenellus Merriam 1895 is
a monotypic species.

Sorex trowbridgii (Trowbridge’s shrew)-Known
from conifer forests in the Sierra Nevada of extreme
western Nevada in Washoe County. The subspecies
is S. /. mariposae Grinell 1913.

Sorex vagrans (vagrant shrew)-Occurs near
streams or marshy areas in central and western Ne¬
vada. The subspecies is S. v. vagrans Baird 1858.

Notiosorex crawfordi (Crawford’s desert shrew)-
Known from desert grasslands in southern Nevada.
Kotler (1985) noted the northern extension of the dis¬
tribution of this species into at least Mineral County.
The subspecies is N. c. crawfordi (Coues 1877).

Family Talpidae

(Moles)

Scapanus latimanus (broad-footed mole)-Occurs
in moist soils along streams and in forests in extreme
western Nevada. S. 1. dilatus True 1894 occurs along
the western border north of Douglas County and S. I,
monoensis Grinnell 1918 occurs at the southern extent
of the range.

ORDER CHIROPTERA-BATS
Family Phyllostomidae

(Leaf-nosed Bats)

Macrotus californicus (California leaf-nosed bat)-
This colonial, cave-dwelling species occurs in Clark
County in the south. M. californicus Baird 1858 is
monotypic.

Choeronycteris mexicana (Mexican long-tongued
bat)-A single record of this very rare species is known
from Clark County (Constantine 1987). Choeronycteris
mexicana Tschudi 1844 is a monotypic species.

Family Vespertilionidae

(Vespertilionid Bats)

Myotis californicus (California myotis)-Known
from lower elevations in the deserts of western and
southern Nevada. The subspecies is M. c. stephensi
Dalquest 1900. This subspecies was formerly recog¬
nized as M. c. pallidus.

Myotis ciliolabrum (western small-footed
myotis)-Common and known from numerous locali¬
ties throughout the state. The subspecies is M, c.
melanorhinus (Merriam 1886). Recent synonyms for
this species are M. subulatus and M. leibii.

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Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Myotis evotis (long-eared myotis)-A solitary spe¬
cies found in forested mountain areas across the state.
The subspecies is M. e. evotis (H. Allen 1864) and
was recognized formerly as M. e. chrysonotus.

Myotis lucifugus (little brown myotis)-Common
in the northern half of the state. The subspecies is M.
1. carissima Thomas 1904.

Myotis thysanodes (fringed myotis)-Occurs in a
variety of habitats but only known from a few locali¬
ties in Nevada. It is expected to occur statewide in
suitable habitat. The subspecies is M. t. thysanodes
Miller 1897.

Myotis velifer( cave myotis)-Uncommon and has
been recorded only in extreme southern Nevada
(Cockrum 1964). The historic location of this species
has recently been relocated in the Lake Mead National
Recreation Area in Clark County (J. Williams, pers.
comm.). The subspecies is M. v. brevis Vaughn 1954.

Myotis volans (long-legged myotis)-Common in
a variety of habitats and occurs statewide. The sub¬
species isM v. interior Miller 1914.

Myotisyumanensis (Yuma myotis)-Found in close
association with permanent water sources in the lower
arid regions of southern and western Nevada. The
subspecies are: M. y. sociabilis H.W. Grinnell 1914 in
the extreme western and northwestern portions of the
state and M. y. yumanensis (H. Allen 1864) in the re¬
mainder of the range.

Lasiurus blossevillii (western red bat)-An un¬
common species known from limited records in south¬
ern Nevada and from along the Truckee River in the
west. The subspecies is L. b. teliotis (Allen 1891).

Lasiurus cinereus (hoary bat)-This solitary spe¬
cies, among the largest bats in North America, may be
common throughout much of the state, but occur¬
rences are not well documented. The subspecies is L.
c. cinereus (Palisot de Beauvois 1796).

Lasiurus xanthinus (western yellow bat }~Lasiurus
xanthinus was first documented in Nevada in 2001
from riparian habitats in the Moapa Valley in Clark
County (O’Farrell et al. 2004). Lasiurus xanthinus

(Thomas 1897) is a monotypic species (Baker et al.
1988).

Lasionycteris noctivagans (silver-haired bat)-
Occurs statewide and is primarily associated with larger
pine tree species, although has been documented at
lower elevations (Moapa Valley) during migratory pe¬
riods (Bradley et al. 1965). Lasionycteris noctivagans
(LeConte 1831) is a monotypic species.

Pipistrellus hesperus (western pipistrelle)-Com-
mon in deserts regions in the southern and western
portions of the state and extends to the northwest dur¬
ing seasonal movements, as noted by recent captures
in Elko County (Ports and Bradley 1996). The sub¬
species is P. h. hesperus (H. Allen 1864).

Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat)-Occurs state¬
wide. Eptesicus f bernardinus (Rhoads 1901) occurs
in western Nevada, along the Sierra Nevada; and E, f
pallidus Young 1908 occurs in the remainder of the
state.

Corynorhinus townsendii (Townsend’s big-eared
bat)-Distributed statewide and often found in caves
and mines. The subspecies is C. t. pallescens (Miller
1897). This species is placed in the genus Plecotus by
some authors (see Baker et al. 2003).

Idionycteris phyllotis (Allen’s big-eared bat)-A
rare species that occurs in various montane forests of
southern Nevada. The subspecies is I. p. hualapaiensis
Tumlison 1993.

Antrozouspallidus (pallid bat)-Common through¬
out the state. Ports and Bradley (1996) reported a north¬
ward extension of the known range of this species
into White Pine and Elko counties. Antrozous pallidus
cantwelli Bailey 1936 occurs in the extreme north¬
western corner of the state and A. p. pallidus (LeConte
1856) occurs in the western and southern areas of the
range.

Euderma maculatum (spotted bat)-Recent
records indicate that this species is distributed through¬
out the low desert regions in the southern and western
portions of the state, but has not yet been collected
from the central and northeastern areas (Geluso 2000;
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

(Free-tailed Bats)

Tadarida brasiliensis (Brazilian free-tailed bat}-
Known from multiple localities in the desert regions of
the state and is most likely non-migratory in southern
Nevada. This species is probably found statewide, as
evidenced by the recent range extensions into White
Pine County in the east, noted by Ports and Bradley
(1996). The largest natural roost occurs in White Pine
County with an estimated 60,000 individuals during
the late summer (J. Williams, pers. comm.). The sub¬
species is T. b. mexicana (Saussure 1860).

Nyctinomops macrotis (big free-tailed bat)-Origi-
nally known from only one specimen that lacked spe¬
cific locality data, additional specimens have since been
recorded in fall months in Clark County, though this
species is still rare. Nyctinomops macrotis (Gray 1839)
is a monotypic species.

Eumops perotis (western bonneted bat)-Only one
specimen has been recorded from Clark County in
southern Nevada. The subspecies is E. p. californicus
(Merriam 1890).

ORDER PRIMATES - PRIMATES
Family Hominidae

(Great Apes and Humans)

Homo sapiens (modern man)-Ubiquitous
throughout the state; two counties, Clark and Washoe,
have populations greater than 200,000 individuals
(Hardcastle 2000).

ORDER LAGAMORPHA - LAGOMORPHS
Family Ochodontidae

(Pikas)

Ochotona princeps (American pika)~Found al¬
most exclusively on talus in alpine areas in Nevada.
This species may be in decline with the possibility of
recent extirpation of multiple historic populations in
the Great Basin (Beever et al. 2003). Five subspecies
occur in the state: O. p . muiri Grinnell and Storer 1916
in the Sierra Nevada; O. p. nevadensis Howell 1919 in
the Ruby Mountains; O.p. schisticeps (Merriam 1889)

in the Pine Forest Mountains; O. p. sheltoni Grinnell
1918 in the White Mountains; and O. p. tutelata Hall
1934 in the Desatoya, Shoshone, Toiyabe, Toquima,
and Monitor ranges in central Nevada (Smith and
Weston 1990).

Family Leporidae

(Hares and Rabbits)

Brachylagus idahoensis (pygmy rabbit)-A small
species, typical of dense sagebrush habitat across the
northern two-thirds of the state. Brachylagus
idahoensis (Merriam 1891) is a monotypic species.

Sylvilagus audubonii (desert cottontail)-Known
from several localities at lower elevations in the south¬
ern portion of the state but the range may be expand¬
ing northward. The subspecies is S. a. arizonae (Allen
1877).

Sylvilagus nuttallii (mountain cottontail)-Occurs
at moderate to higher elevations in dense sage and for¬
ested areas. The subspecies are S. n. nuttallii
(Bachman 1837) in the northwestern corner of the
state and S. n. grangeri (Allen 1895), which occurs in
the remainder of the state exclusive of lower eleva¬
tions in the south and southwest.

Lepus americanus (snowshoe hare)-Occurs in
dense shrub habitat in the Sierra Nevada in the west.
This species may also occur to a limited extent in the
Jarbidge Mountains in the northeast. The subspecies
are L. a. tahoensis Orr 1933 in the west and L, a.
bairdii Hayden 1869 in the northeast.

Lepus californicus (black-tailed jackrabbit)-
Abundant and found in a wide variety of habitats
throughout the state. The two subspecies are L, c.
deserticola Meams 1896, which is found across most
of the state with the exception of the northwestern
corner, where L. c. wallawalla Merriam 1904 occurs.

Lepus townsendii (white-tailed jackrabbit)-Oc-
curs at higher elevations in northeastern Nevada and
in the Sierra Nevada in the west. The subspecies is L.
t. townsendii Bachman 1839.

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Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

ORDER RODENT1A - RODENTS
Family Aplodontidae

(mountain beavers)

Aplodontia rufa (Sewellel or mountain beaver)-
Found along mountain streams in the Sierra Nevada in
the west. The subspecies is A. r. californica (Peters
1864).

Family Sciuridae

(Squirrels)

Neotamias amoenus (yellow-pine chipmunk)-
Restricted to Ponderosa (yellow pine) and Jeffrey Pine
forests in the north. The subspecies are: N. a. amoenus
(Allen 1890) in western Washoe County and north-
central Elko County; N. a. celeries (Hall and Johnson
1940) in the Pine Forest Mountains in Humboldt
County; and N. a. monoensis (Grinnell and Storer 1916)
in the Sierra Nevada. All Neotamias formerly were
placed in the genera Eutamias and Tamias.

Neotamias dorsalis (cliff chipmunk)-Distributed
in pinon pine and juniper habitat in eastern and south¬
ern Nevada. The subspecies are: N. d. grinnelli (Burt
1931) in the Sheep Mountains in Clark County, the
Toiyabe Mountains in Nye and Lander counties, and
northward; and N, d. utahensis (Merriam 1897) along
the eastern border of the state.

Neotamias minimus (least chipmunk)-Common
and known from multiple localities in sagebrush habi¬
tat in the northern half of the state, exclusive of low¬
lands. The subspecies is N. m. scrutator (Hall and
Hatfield 1934).

Neotamias palmeri (Palmer’s chipmunk)-Con-
fined to the Spring Mountains in Clark County in south¬
ern Nevada. Neotamias palmeri (Merriam 1897) is a
monotypic species.

Neotamias panamintinus (Panamint chipmunk)-
Found in pinon-juniper regions along the southwest¬
ern edge of the state from Douglas County south to
Nye County. The subspecies is N. p. panamintinus
(Merriam 1893).

Neotamias quadrimaculatus (long-eared chip-
munk)-Occurs in shrubby openings in the coniferous
forests in the Sierra Nevada. Neotamias
quadrimaculatus (Gray 1867) is a monotypic species.

Neotamias speciosus (lodgepole chipmunk)-
Found in lodgepole pine forests in the Sierra Nevada in
western Nevada. The subspecies is N, s. frater (Allen
1890).

Neotamias senex (Allen’s chipmunk)-Distributed
in coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada. Neotamias
senex (J.A. Allen 1890) is a monotypic species.

Neotamias umbrinus (Uinta chipmunk)-Found in
coniferous forests at moderate to high elevations in
the mountains of central and eastern Nevada. The
subspecies are: N. u. nevadensis , which is confined to
the Sheep Mountains in Clark County and may now be
extinct; and N. u. inyoensis (Merriam 1897) in the re¬
mainder of the range of this species.

Marmota flaviventris (yellow-bellied marmot)-
Present in rocky areas in the northern half of the state.
Four subspecies occur in Nevada: M. f flaviventris
(Audubon and Bachman 1841) occurs in the Sierra
Nevada in the west; M. f nosophora Howell 1914
occurs in the northeastern corner of the state; M. f
parvula Howell 1914 is found in the Toiyabe, Toquima,
and Hot Creek Ranges in central Nevada; and M. f
avara (Bangs 1899) occurs in the remainder of the
range.

Ammospermophilus leucurus (white-tailed ante¬
lope squirrel)-Distributed in desert shrub habitats in
the southern and western portions of the state, and
recent records extend the distribution into north-cen¬
tral areas of the state (O’Farrell and Clark 1984). The
subspecies is^L /. leucurus (Merriam 1889).

Spermophilus beecheyi (California ground squir-
rel)-Common in a variety of habitats in western Ne¬
vada from southern Washoe to Douglas County and
east into Churchill County. The subspecies is S. b.
fisheri Merriam 1893.

Spermophilus beldingi (Belding’s ground squir-
rel)-Occurs in meadowlands in the western and north¬
western edges of the state and in the central and north¬
eastern portions of the state. The subspecies are: S. b.
oregonus Merriami 1898 in the northwest; S. b. beldingi
in the extreme western areas in the vicinity of Lake
Tahoe; and S. b, crebrus (Hall 1940) in the central and
northeastern areas.

Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals

7

Spermophilus canus (Columbia Plateau ground
squirrel)-Distributed in sagebrush areas in the north¬
western corner of the state. Spermophilus canus
(Merriam 1898) is a monotypic species.

Spermophilus elegans (Richardson’s ground
squirrel)-Found in sagebrush habitat in the northeast.
The subspecies is S. e. nevadensis (Howell 1928).

Spermophilus lateralis (golden-mantled ground
squirrel)-Present in open forests and on rock slides
throughout mountainous regions of the state. The three
subspecies are: S. I chrysodeirus (Merriam 1890) in
the Sierra Nevada in the extreme western portion of
the state; S. 1. certus (Goldman 1931) in the Spring
Mountains in Clark County; and S. I trepidus (Taylor
1910) in the southwest, northwest, and northeastern
portions of Nevada.

Spermophilus mollis (Great Basin ground squir-
rel)-Ranges in sagebrush areas throughout the Great
Basin in the northern two-thirds of the state, except in
the northwestern corner. Spermophilus mollis
(Kennicott 1863) is a monotypic species.

Spermophilus tereticaudus (round-tailed ground
squirrel)-Occurs in the desert habitat in southern Ne¬
vada. The subspecies is S, t. tereticaudus Baird 1857.

Spermophilus variegatus (rock squirrel)-Com-
mon in southeastern Nevada. The subspecies are: S.
v. Utah (Merriam 1903) in the south; and S. v. robustus
(Durrant and Hansen 1954) in the northern portion of
the range.

Sciurus griseus (western gray squirrel)-Known
from limited localities in Jeffrey pine forests in the
Sierra Nevada in western Nevada. The subspecies is
S. g. griseus (Ord 1818).

Tamiasciurus douglasii (Douglas’ squirrel)-
Found in coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada in
the west. The subspecies is T. d. albolimbatus (Allen
1898).

Glaucomys sabrinus (northern flying squirrel)-
Occurs in coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada at
the western edge of the state. The subspecies is G 5.
lascivus (Bangs 1899).

Family Geomyidae

(Pocket Gophers)

Thomomys bottae (Botta’s pocket gopher)-Dis-
tributed in the lowlands of central, southern and west¬
ern Nevada. There are twenty recognized subspecies:
T. b. canus Bailey 1910 near the Black Rock Desert in
Pershing and Humboldt counties; T. b. depressus Hall
1932 near the Humboldt Salt Marsh in Churchill
County; T. b. lucrificus Hall and Durham 1938 near
Eastgate in Churchill County; T. b. cinereus Hall 1932
in the valleys of East Walker River, West Walker River,
and Walker River in Lyon County to Walker Lake in
Mineral County; T. b. lacrymalis Hall 1932 from Fish
Lake Valley in Esmeralda County north to Walker Lake
in Esmeralda and Lyon counties; T. b. solitarius
Grinnell 1926 in eastern Mineral and northern Esmeralda
County; T. b. fumosus Hall 1932 in the Great Smoky
Valley to the southern end of the Toiyabe Mountains in
western Nye County; T. b. curtatus Hall 1932 from
San Antonia in Nye County; T. b. vescus Hall and Davis
1935 in the Toquima Mountains in Nye County; T, b.
concisor Hall and Davis 1935 in Monitor Valley in Nye
County; T. b. abstrusus Hall and Davis 1935 from the
northern end of Fish Valley in Nye County; I b.
brevidens Hall 1932 in central Nye County; T. b. latus
Hall and Davis 1940 in Steptoe Valley in White Pine
County; T. b. centralis Hall 1930 from southern White
Pine County south across eastern Nevada, excluding
the Virgin River Valley; T. b. virgineus Goldman 1937
in the Virgin River Valley; T. b. nanus Hall 1932 in the
Quinn Canyon Mountains in Lincoln and Nye coun¬
ties; T. b , phelleoecus Burt 1933 in the Sheep Moun¬
tains in Clark County; T. b. melanotis Grinnell 1918 on
Mount Magruder in southern Esmeralda County; T. b.
oreoecus Burt 1932 in the Grapevine Mountains in
southern Nye County; and T. b. providentialis Grinnell
1931 in southern Clark County exclusive of the Colo¬
rado River Valley.

Thomomys monticola (mountain pocket gopher)-
Found in forest meadows in the Sierra Nevada in
Washoe, Carson City, and Douglas counties. The sub¬
species is T. m. monticola Allen 1893.

Thomomys talpoides (northern pocket gopher)-
Occurs in a variety of habitats in northern Nevada and
in the Sierra Nevadas. The subspecies are: T. /. quadra-
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.
monoensis Huey 1934 along the western border of the
state from Douglas to Esmeralda County; and T. t.
falcifer Grinnell 1926 in the central portion of the state.

Thomomys townsendii (Townsend’s pocket go-
pher)-Distributed in the Humboldt River valley and as¬
sociated waterways in northern Nevada. The subspe¬
cies is T. t. nevadensis Merriam 1897. T. t. elkoensis is
a synonym of T. t. nevadensis (Verts and Carroway
2003).

Family Heteromyidae

(Pocket Mice, Kangaroo Mice and Kangaroo Rats)

Perognathus longimembris (little pocket mouse)-
Occurs in sandy areas associated with creosote and
sagebrush throughout the state, exclusive of the cen¬
tral-eastern and northeastern portions of the state. The
subspecies are: P. l. nevadensis (Merriami 1894) in
the central and northwestern areas; P l. panamintinus
(Merriam 1894) in western Nevada from southern
Humboldt County south to Clark County; P. 1. virginis
Huey 1939 in the Virgin River Valley in Lincoln and
Nye counties; and P. 1. gulosus Hall 1941 along the
eastern border of the state in White Pine and Elko coun¬
ties.

Perognathus parvus (Great Basin pocket mouse)-
Common and widespread from northern Clark County
north throughout the state. The subspecies are: P p.
parvus (Peale 1848) in the extreme northwestern cor¬
ner of the state; and P. p. olivaceous Merriam 1889
across the remainder of the range.

Chaetodipus formosus (long-tailed pocket
mouse)-Distributed in lowlands and valleys in west¬
ern and southern Nevada as well as White Pine County
in the east. The subspecies are: C.f. melanurus (Hall
1941) in Humboldt, Pershing, and Washoe counties;
C.f mohavensis (Huey 1938) in the southwestern and
southern portions of the state; and C.f. incolatus (Hall
1941) on Mount Moriah in eastern White Pine County.

Chaetodipus penicillatus (Sonoran desert pocket
mouse)-Restricted to sandy soils in Clark County in
southern Nevada. The subspecies are: C p. sobrinus
(Goldman 1939) along the Muddy, Virgin, and Colo¬
rado Rivers north of Hoover Dam; and C. p

penicillatus Woodhouse 1852 along the southern ex¬
tent of the Colorado River.

Chaetodipus spinatus (spiny pocket mouse)-
Occurs in extreme southern Nevada. The subspecies
is C. 5. spinatus (Merriam 1889).

Microdipodops megacephalus (dark kangaroo
mouse)-Distributed in fine, gravely soils throughout
the northern two-thirds of the state. Nine subspecies
occur in the state: M. m. oregonus Merriam 1901 oc¬
curs in the northwestern corner; M. m. californicus
Merriam 1901 in southern Washoe and Douglas coun¬
ties; M. m. nasutus Hall 1941 in Mineral County; M.
m. ambiguous Hall 1941 from southern Humboldt to
southern Washoe counties; M. m. medius Hall 1941 in
southwestern Pershing County; M. m. nexus Hall 1941
in southestern Humboldt and northwestern Lander
counties; M. m. megacephalus Merriam 1891, widely
distributed across central and northeastern Nevada;
M. m. sabulonis Hall 1941 in the south-central area;
and M. m. albiventer Hall and Durrant 1937 in central
Lincoln County. Medica (1990) has reported on the
extension of the known distribution of this species to
the southwest in Nye County.

Microdipodops pallidus (pale kangaroo mouse)-
Occurs in fine sandy soils in the southwest and south-
central portions of the state and eastward into Nye
and Lincoln counties. The four subspecies are: M. p.
pallidus Merriam 1901 from southern Pershing County
to Lander County; M. p. ruficollaris Hall 1941 from
western Nye to western Lincoln County; M. p.
ammophilus Hall 1941 in eastern Nye County; and M.
p. purus Hall 1941 in western Lincoln County.

Dipodomys californicus (California kangaroo
rat)-Known only from a single specimen collected in
Washoe County, in extreme northwest Nevada (Stangl
et al. 1999); this record may indicate an accidental
occurrence. The subspecies is D. c. californicus
Merriam 1890.

Dipodomys deserti (desert kangaroo rat)-Distrib-
uted in sandy desert habitat in southern and western
parts of the state. The subspecies are: D. d. aquilus
Nader 1965 in Humboldt, Pershing, and Washoe coun¬
ties; and D. d. deserti Stephens 1887, which occurs
from Churchill County south to Clark County.

Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals

9

Dipodomys merriami (Merriam’s kangaroo rat)-
Found in the desert valleys of southern and western
Nevada. The subspecies is D. m. merriami Meams
1890.

Dipodomys microps (chisel-toothed kangaroo
rat)~Occurs in sagebrush and creosote areas exclu¬
sive of the Humboldt and Colorado River areas. The
five subspecies are: D. m, preblei (Goldman 1921) in
northern Washoe and northern Humboldt County; D.
m. aquilonius (Willett 1935) in central Washoe County;
D. m. centralis Hall and Dale 1939, found from south¬
eastern Humboldt south to central Nye County; D. m.
occidentalis Hall and Dale 1939 in the southwest in
Nye, western Lincoln and Clark counties; and D. m.
bonnevillei Goldman 1937 in western Elko and White
Pine counties.

Dipodomys ordii (Ord’s kangaroo rat)-Distrib-
uted in sagebrush and creosote habitats across the
northern two-thirds of the state. Five subspecies oc¬
cur in Nevada: D. o. inaquosus Hall 1941 in southeast¬
ern Humboldt and northern Lander counties; D. o.
celeripes Durrant and Hall 1939 at the western edge of
the state in Elko and White Pine counties; D. o,
monoensis (Grinnell 1919), from Pershing to central
Esmeralda County; D. o. fetosus Durrant and Hall 1939
in eastern Nye and northern Lincoln County; and D. o.
columbianus (Merriam 1894), common throughout the
remainder of the range.

Dipodomys panamintinus (Panamint kangaroo
rat)-Found in sagebrush and pifion juniper habitats in
western Nevada. The subspecies are: D. p. caudatus
Hall 1946 in western Clark County in the south; and
D p. leucogenys (Grinnell 1919) from southern
Washoe to western Mineral County.

Family Castoridae

(Beavers)

Castor canadensis (American beaver)-Naturally
occurs in streams and lakes in northeastern Nevada
and southern Nevada. This species was introduced
into the Sierra Nevada region and Truckee River Basin
in California in the 1930s and 1940s, which was fol¬
lowed by subsequent range expansion into Nevada
(Beier and Barrett 1989). The introduced individuals

were taken from Idaho and Oregon populations (Tappe
1942), making subspecific designation of this intro¬
duced variant difficult. The subspecies are: C. c. taylori
Davis 1939 in the Snake River drainage; C. c. baileyi
Nelson 1927 in the Humboldt River valley; and C. c.
repentinus Goldman 1932 in the Colorado River drain¬
age.

Family Muridae

(Mice, Rats, Voles, and Muskrats)

Reithrodontomys megalotis (western harvest
mouse)-Common in grasslands throughout the state.
The subspecies is R. m. megalotis (Baird 1857).

Peromyscus boylii (brush mouse)-Rare in brushy
areas along streams near the Sierra Nevada in the west
and in the southern portion of the state. The subspe¬
cies are: P. b. boylii (Baird 1855) near Lake Tahoe in
the west; and P. b. rowleyi (Allen 1893) in Clark and
Lincoln counties in the south.

Peromyscus crinitus (canyon mouse)-Found in
rocky habitat across the entire state. The subspecies
are: P. c. crinitus (Merriam 1891) in the western half
of the state; P c. pergracilis (Goldman 1939) in White
Pine, Elko, and Eureka counties in the east; and P c.
stephensi f Mearns 1897 in the southern half of the state.

Peromyscus eremicus (cactus mouse)-Distributed
in the desert lowlands of southern Nevada. The sub¬
species is P e. eremicus (Baird 1857).

Peromyscus maniculatus (deer mouse)-Ubiqui-
tous throughout the state. The subspecies are: P m.
gambelii (Baird 1857) in northwestern Nevada; and P.
m. sonoriensis (LeConte 1853) in the remainder of the
state.

Peromyscus truei (pinon mouse)-Occurs in
rocky, pifion-juniper areas across the southern two-
thirds of the state, with recent extensions of known
range northward in Nevada (O’Farrell and Clark 1984).
The subspecies are: P t. truei (Shufeldt 1885) in west¬
ern and southern Nevada; and P t. nevadensis Hall
and Hoffmeister 1940 in Elko, White Pine, and Lin¬
coln counties in the east.

10

Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Onychomys leucogaster (northern grasshopper
mouse)-Occurs at moderate elevations in the north¬
ern half of the state. The subspecies is 0. I brevicaudus
Merriam 1891; Onychomys l. fuscogriseus is a syn¬
onym.

Onychomys torridus (southern grasshopper
mouse)-Found in the lowlands of southern and west¬
ern Nevada. The subspecies are: O. t. pulcher Elliot
1903 at the extreme southern tip of the state in Clark
County; and 0. t. longicaudus Merriam 1889 in the
remainder of the range.

Sigmodon arizonae (Arizona cotton rat)-Histori-
cally occurred along the Colorado River at the extreme
southern tip of the state in Clark County, though the
available habitat may have been destroyed with the
formation of Lake Mead. The subspecies is S. a. plenus
Goldman 1938.

Neotoma cinerea (bushy-tailed woodrat)-Found
in forests in the northern half of the state and south¬
ward along the western border into southern Nevada.
The subspecies are: N. c. alticola Flooper 1940 in the
north; N. c. acraia (Elliot 1903) from the Sierra Ne¬
vada across the central and western parts of the state
and south to the Sheep Mountains in Clark County;
and N. c, lucida Goldman 1917 in the Spring Moun¬
tains in Clark County.

Neotoma lepida (desert woodrat)-Common in
rocky habitats throughout the state. The subspecies
are: N. 1. nevadensis Taylor 1910 in the northwest; N.
1. grinnelli Hall 1942 in southern Clark County; and N.
1. lepida Thomas 1893 across the majority of the state.

Rattus norvegicus* (Norway rat)-Introduced and
occurs throughout the state in association with Homo
sapiens. The subspecies is R. n. norvegicus
(Berkenhout 1769).

Rattus rattus * (black rat)-Introduced and known
only in the vicinity of Reno in Washoe County and
near Las Vegas in Clark County. The subspecies is R.
r alexandrinus (Geoffroy 1803).

Mus musculus * (house mouse)-Introduced spe¬
cies found throughout the state.

Phenacomys intermedius (western heather vole)-
Distributed in grassy or open areas in coniferous for¬
ests in the Sierra Nevada in western Nevada. The
subspecies is P. i. celsus Howell 1923.

Microtus longicaudus (long-tailed vole)-Occurs
in grassy, herbaceous areas and aspen thickets in the
northern two-thirds of the state. The three subspe¬
cies are: M. 1. mordax (Merriam 1891) along the north¬
ern border of the state and into northern White Pine
County; M. 1. sierrae Kellogg 1922 in the Sierra Ne¬
vada south into Douglas County; and M. 1. latus Hall
1931 in the remainder of the range.

Microtus montanus (montane vole)-Distributed
in moist, grassy areas and meadows in the northern
half of the state and in central Lincoln and southern
Nye County. There are six subspecies in Nevada: M.
m.fucosus Hall 1935 in Pahranagat Valley in Lincoln
County; M. m. micropus Hall 1935 in the northern half
of the state; M. m. montanus (Peale 1848) from Pyra¬
mid Lake in southern Washoe County south to
Esmeralda County; M. m. nanus in the extreme north¬
eastern corner of Elko County; M. m. nevadensis
Bailey 1898 in Ash Meadows in Nye County; and M.
m. undosis Hall 1935 along the lower Humboldt River.

Lemmiscus curtatus (sagebrush vole)-Found in
the northern two-thirds of the state in sagebrush habi¬
tat. The subspecies are: L. c. curtatus from Nye County
west along the western border of the state; and L. c,
intermedius in the central and northern areas.

Ondatra zibethicus (common muskrat)-Occurs
near marshes, lakes, and streams in southern, west¬
ern, and northeastern Nevada. The subspecies are: 0.
z. bernardi Goldman 1932 along the Colorado River in
the south; 0. z. goldmani Huey 1938 along the Virgin
River in the south; 0. z, osoyoosensis (Lord 1863) in
northern Elko County along the Snake River and asso¬
ciated waterways; and 0, z. mergens (Hollister 1910)
in western Nevada and in northern Nevada along the
Humboldt River and southward along the Reese River,

Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals

11

Family Zapodidae

(Jumping Mice)

Zapus princeps (western jumping mouse)-Com-
mon in forested areas in northern Nevada. The sub¬
species are: Z p. curtatus Hall 1931 in the Pine Forest
Mountains of Humboldt County; Z. p. oregonus Preble
1899 along the waterways in the northeast; and Z. p.
pacificus Merriam 1897 in the Sierra Nevada in ex¬
treme western Nevada. Zapus p. nevadensis and Z. p.
palatinus are synonyms of Z. p. oregonus; Z p. alleni
is synonymous with Z p. pacificus.

Family Erethizontidae

(New World Porcupines)

Erethizon dorsatum (North American porcupine)-
Occurs in forests and pinon-juniper and riparian wood¬
lands throughout the state. The subspecies are: E. d.
couesi Mearns 1897 in Clark County; and E. d.
epixanthum Brandt 1835 in the remainder of the state.

Family Myocastoridae

(Nutria)

Myocastor coypus* (nutria or coypu)-Introduced
and occurs around major waterways.

ORDER CARNIVORA - CARNIVORES
Family Canidae

(Dogs, Foxes, and Wolves)

Canis familiar is* (feral dog)-A feral species that
is common throughout much of the state, especially in
close association with Homo sapiens.

Canis latrans (coyote)-Common and widespread
across the entire state. The subspecies are: C. /. lestes
Merriam 1897 in the northern two-thirds of the state;
and C. I mearnsi Merriam 1897 in the south.

Vulpes macrotis (kit fox)-Common in moderate
to low elevation open desert areas, characterized by
shrubs and grasses. The subspecies are: V m. arsipus
Elliot 1903 in the southern Nevada; and V m.
nevadensis Goldman 1931 in lower elevations in the
central and western portions of the state. This spe¬
cies is considered conspecific with V velox, the swift
fox, by some authors (Wilson and Ruff 1999).

Vulpes vulpes (red fox)-Known from numerous
localities in forested mountain ranges across the state.
The subspecies is V v. necator Merriam 1900.

Urocyon cinereoargenteus (common gray fox)-
Occurs in brushy or forested areas in southern half of
the state. The subspecies is U. c. scottii Mearns 1891.

Family Ursidae

(Bears)

Ursus americanus (American black bear)-Occurs
in the Sierra Nevada in the extreme western portion of
the state. The subspecies is U. a. calif or niensis J.
Miller 1900.

Family Procyonidae

(Ringtails and Raccoons)

Bassariscus astutus (ringtail)-Associated with
rocky hillsides in pinon-juniper woodlands and ripar¬
ian habitats in southern Nevada. The subspecies is B.
a. nevadensis Miller 1913.

Procyon lotor (northern raccoon)-Originally re¬
stricted to habitats near water, this species now oc¬
curs throughout the state, recently expanding into the
dry, central aridlands (Kamler et al. 2003). The three
subspecies are: P. I excelsus Nelson and Goldman 1930
in the northern part of the state; P l. psora Gray 1842
in the extreme west near Lake Tahoe; and P. 1. pallidus
Merriam 1900 in southern Nevada along the Colorado
and Virgin rivers and Meadow Valley Wash.

Family Mustelidae

(Weasels, Wolverine, Badgers, and Otters)

Maries americana (American marten)-Occurs
in dense coniferous forests in the Sierra Nevada in the
west. The subspecies is M. a. sierrae Grinnell and
Storer 1916.

Mustela erminea (ermine or short-tailed weasel)-
Distributed in forested areas at higher elevations in the
northern half of the state. The subspecies is M. e.
murices (Bangs 1899).

Mustela frenata (long-tailed weasel)-Abundant
throughout the state near water and generally exclu-

12

Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

sive of southern deserts, but Medica (1990) indicates
that the range of this species may be expanding south¬
ward. The subspecies is M. f nevadensis Hall 1936.

Mustela vison (American mink)-Found along
streams and lakes in northern and western areas of the
state. The subspecies are: M. v. aestuarina Grinnell
1916 near waterways in the Sierra Nevada Mountains
and along the Truckee and Walker rivers; and M. v.
energumenos (Bangs 1896) in the north along the
Humboldt River and near Ruby Lake and associated
waterways.

Gulo gulo (wolverine)-Historically occurred in
dense coniferous forests in the extreme western and
northeastern portions of the state. The subspecies rs
G. g. luteus Elliot 1904.

Taxidea taxus (American badger)-Common at
moderate to high elevations in mountains and in dry
open hills and valleys. The subspecies are: T. t.
berlandieri Baird 1857 in the southern third of the state;
and T. t. jeffersoni (Harlan 1825) throughout the rest
of the state.

Lontra canadensis (northern river otter)-Found
in association with streams in various parts of the state.
The subspecies are: L. c. pacifica Rhoads 1893 in the
Sierra Nevada in the west and along the Humboldt River
and associated waterways in the northeast; and L. c.
sonora Rhoads 1893 historically occurred along the
Colorado and Virgin Rivers in the south.

Family Mephitidae

(Skunks)

Spilogale gracilis (western spotted skunk)-Of-
ten occurs away from water near rocky and brushy
areas, including pinon-juniper woodlands throughout
the entire state. The subspecies is S. g. gracilis Merriam
1890. This species was formerly included in S.
putorius and the subspecies was previously split into
two separate subspecies, S. g, saxatilis and S. g. gra¬
cilis.

Mephitis mephitis (striped skunk)-Found
throughout the state near water. The subspecies are:

M. m estor Merriam 1890 along the Colorado River in
the south; and M. m. major (Howell 1901) along wa¬
terways in the remainder of the state.

Family Felidae

(Cats)

Felis catus* (feral cat)-A feral species found
throughout the state and commonly associated with
Homo sapiens.

Puma concolor (mountain lion or puma)-Occurs
throughout the state in densely forested and brushy
areas. The subspecies are: P. c. californica May 1896
along the western edge of the state; and P. c.
kaibabensis Nelson and Goldman 1931 in the central
and eastern parts of the state.

Lynx rufus (bobcat)-Abundant thoughout the
state near mountainous areas. The subspecies are: L.
r. californicus Mearns 1897 in the Sierra Nevada Moun¬
tains; L. r. baileyi Merriam 1890 in the southern and
southwestern portions of the state; and L. r. pallescens
Merriam 1899 in the northern half of the state.

ORDER PERISSODACTYLA - ODD-TOED
UNGULATES
Family Equidae

(Horses and Asses)

Equus asinus* (feral ass)-Introduced and oc¬
curs in small managed herds throughout the state.
Currently, herds exist in Clark, Esmerelda, Humboldt,
Lander, Mineral, Nye, Pershing, and White Pine coun¬
ties. Estimated herd populations range from 15 to 248
individuals (mean = 55; Bureau of Land Management
National Wild Horse and Burro Program 2004; http://
www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov T

Equus caballus * (feral horse)-Introduced and
occurs in numerous managed herds throughout the
state. Estimated herd populations range from 3 to
1,020 individuals (mean = 199; Bureau of Land Man¬
agement National Wild Horse and Burro Program 2004;
http://www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov ).

Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals

13

ORDER ARTIODACTYLA- EVEN-TOED
UNGULATES
Family Cervidae

(Deer)

Cervus canadensis * (wapiti or elk)-Introduced
to several mountain ranges in northeastern Nevada,
and occur at moderate to high elevations. The sub¬
species is C. c. nelsoni Bailey 1935.

Odocoileus hemionus (mule or black-tailed deer)-
Found throughout the state in forested areas at higher
elevations in spring and summer months and at lower
elevations during the winter, exclusive of extreme
southern desert habitats. The subspecies is O. h.
hemionus Rafinesque 1817.

Family Antilocapridae

(Pronghorn)

Antilocapra americana (pronghorn)-Widespread
in sagebrush habitats at moderate to low elevations
throughout the state, primarily in northern Nevada and
a few areas in the eastern and south-central portions
of the state. The subspecies is A. a. americana (Ord
1815).

Family Bovidae

(Bovids)

Bos taurus * (domestic cattle)-Introduced and
occurs throughout the state.

Oreamnos americanus * (mountain goat)-Intro-
duced into the Humboldt Range and the Ruby Moun¬
tains.

Ovis canadensis (mountain or bighorn sheep)-
Originally widespread throughout the state in steep,
rocky terrain but was likely completely extirpated by
the 1930’s (Tsukamota 1993). Starting in 1967, indi¬
viduals were transplanted and reintroduced to numer¬
ous mountain ranges throughout the historic range.
The subspecies are: O. c. californiana Douglas 1829
on the high plateaus in the northwest; O. c. canadensis
Shaw 1804 in the mountains of the northeast; and O.
c. nelsoni Merriam 1897 in the mountain ranges in the
southern two-thirds of the state (Cummings and
Stevenson 1997; Weaver 1985).

Acknowledgments

J. A. Williams and L. F. Alexander reviewed pre¬
vious versions of this manuscript and provided many
insightful comments on mammalian distributions in
Nevada. L. F. Alexander and D. J. Merkler designed
and created Figure 1. The information contained in
Appendix 1 was provided by the Nevada Natural Heri¬
tage Program (NNHP, 2004). The publication of this

manuscript was supported in part by the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service and the Nevada Department of
Wildlife. This publication is a contribution from the
Center for Aridlands Biodiversity Research and Edu¬
cation (CABRE) at the University of Nevada, Las Ve¬
gas.

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desert bighorn sheep in Nevada. Desert Bighorn
Council Transactions 42:47-49.

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Hall, E.R. 1995. Mammals of Nevada, with a new forward
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sity of Nevada Press, Reno, Nevada.

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July 1, 1986 to July 1, 2000. Nevada State
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butional records of Preble’s shrew ( Sorex
preblei). Journal of Mammalogy 54:883-884.

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2003. Range expansions of raccoons in western
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can Naturalist 63:406-408,

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Addresses of Authors:

Stacy J. Mantooth

Center for Aridlands Biodiversity Research and Education

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

4505 Maryland Parkway

Las Vegas, NV89154-4004

USA

mantooth@unlv. nevada. edu

Weaver, R. A. 1985. The status of the desert bighorn in the
United States. Pp. 82-85 in Wild sheep, distribu¬
tion, abundance, management and conservation
of the sheep of the world and closely related
mountain ungulates (M. Hoefs, ed.). Northern
Wild Sheep and Goat Council Special Report.
Yukon Wildlife Branch, Whitehorse, Yukon,
Canada.

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North American Mammals. Smithsonian Institu¬
tion Press, Washington, D.C.

Zeveloff, S. I. 1988. Mammals of the Intermountain West.
University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Brett R. Riddle

Center for Aridlands Biodiversity Research and Education

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

4505 Maryland Parkway

Las Vegas , NV89154-4004

USA

riddle@ccmail. nevada. edu

16

Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Appendix I

Appendix 1.—Global and state conservation status of selected species and subspecies of Nevada mam¬
mals, based on rankings set by the Nevada Natural Heritage Program (NNHP). Rankings reflect the rarity and
vulnerability of a species on two scales, a global scale (G-rank) and a state scale (S-rank). These ranks are based
on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 indicating widespread and secure and 1 indicating critically imperiled. Species are
arranged phylogenetically by genus and alphabetically within each genus. Additional information regarding these
rankings can be found in the key following the table and at the NNHP website at www.heritage.nv.gov.

Scientific Name

Common Name

Global Rank

State Rank

Sorex merriami leucogenys

Merriam’s shrew

G5T5

S3

Sorex monticolus

dusky or montane shrew

G5

S3

Sorex palustris

American water shrew

G5

S2

Sorex preblei

Preble’s shrew

G4

S1S2

Sorex tenellus

Inyo shrew

G3G4

S2

Sorex trowbridgii

Trowbridge’s shrew

G5

S2

Sorex vagrans

vagrant shrew

G5

S4

Notiosorex crawfordi

Crawford’s desert shrew

G5

S3

Scapanus latimanus

broad-footed mole

G5

S3

Macrotus californicus

California leaf-nosed bat

G4

S2

Choeronycteris mexicana

Mexican long-tongued bat

G4

SA

Myotis californicus

California myotis

G5

S3B

Myotis ciliolabrum

western small-footed myotis

G5

S3B

Myotis evotis

long-eared myotis

G5

S4B

Myotis lucifugus

little brown myotis

G5

S1S2

Myotis thysanodes

fringed myotis

G4G5

S2B

Myotis velifer

cave myotis

G5

SI

Myotis volans

long-legged myotis

G5

S4B

Myotis yumanensis

Yuma myotis

G5

S4B

Lasiurus blossevillii

western red bat

G5

S1S2

Lasiurus cinereus

hoary bat

G5

S3?

Lasiurus xanthinus

western yellow bat

G5

SI

Lasionycteris noctivagans

silver-haired bat

G5

S3N

Pipistrellus hesperus

western pipistrelle

G5

S4

Eptesicus fuscus

big brown bat

G5

S5

Corynorhinus townsendii

Townsend’s big-eared bat

G4

S3B

Idionycteris phyllotis

Allen’s big-eared bat

G3G4

SI

Antrozous pallidus

pallid bat

G5

S3B

Euderma maculatum

spotted bat

G4

S1S2

Tadarida brasiliensis

Brazilian free-tailed bat

G5

S4B

Nyctinomops macrotis

big free-tailed bat

G5

SIN

Eumops perotis californicus

greater western bonneted bat

G5T4

SI

Ochotona princeps

American pika

G5

S3

Brachylagus idahoensis

pygmy rabbit

G4

S3

Sylvilagus audubonii

desert cottontail

G5

S5

Sylvilagus nuttallii

mountain cottontail

G5

S5

Lepus americanus tahoensis

Sierra Nevada snowshoe hare

G5T3T4Q

S3

Lepus californicus

black-tailed jackrabbit

G5

S5

Lepus townsendii

white-tailed jackrabbit

G5

S5

Aplodontia rufa californica

Mono Basin mountain beaver

G5T3T4

SI

Neotamias amoenus celeris

Humboldt yellow-pine chipmunk

G5T1

S2

Neotamias dorsalis

cliff chipmunk

G5

S5

Neotamias minimus

least chipmunk

G5

S5

Neotamias palmeri

Palmer’s chipmunk

G2

S2

Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals

17

Appendix l(cont.)

Scientific Name

Common Name

Global Rank

State Rank

Neotamias panamintinus

Panamint chipmunk

G4

S4

Neotamias senex

Allen’s chipmunk

G5

S2S3

Neotamias quadrimaculatus

long-eared chipmunk

G4G5

S4

Neotamias speciosus

lodgepole chipmunk

G4

S4

Neotamias umbrinus nevadensis

Hidden Forest Uinta chipmunk

G5TH

SH

Mar m ota flaviventris

yellow-bellied marmot

G5

S4

Ammospermophilus leucurus

white-tailed antelope squirrel

G5

S5

Spermophilus beecheyi

California ground squirrel

G5

S5

Spermophilus beldingi

Belding’s ground squirrel

G5

S5

Spermophilus canus

Columbia Plateau ground squirrel

G4

S3S4

Spermophilus elegans nevadensis

Wyoming ground squirrel

G5T4

S4

Spermophilus lateralis

golden-mantled ground squirrel

G5

S5

Spermophilus mollis

Great Basin ground squirrel

G5

S4S5

Spermophilus tereticaudus

round-tailed ground squirrel

G5

S5

Spermophilus variegatus

rock squirrel

G5

S5

Sciurus griseus griseus

western gray squirrel

G5T5

S4

Tamiasciurus douglasii

Douglas’ squirrel

G5

S5

Glaucomys sabrinus

northern flying squirrel

G5

S3

Thomomys bottae abstrusus

Fish Spring pocket gopher

G5TH

SH

Thomomys bottae curtatus

San Antonio pocket gopher

G5TH

SH

Thomomys monticola

mountain pocket gopher

G5

S3

Thomomys talpoides

northern pocket gopher

G5

S5

Thomomys townsendii

Townsend’s pocket gopher

G4G5

S4S5

Perognathus longimembris

little pocket mouse

G5

S5

Perognathus parvus

Great Basin pocket mouse

G5

S5

Chaetodipus formosus

long-tailed pocket mouse

G5

S5

Chaetodipus penicillatus

Sonoran desert pocket mouse

G5

S1S2

Chaetodipus spinatus

spiny pocket mouse

G5

S3

Microdipodops megacephalus albiventer

Desert Valley kangaroo mouse

G5T2

S2

Microdipodops megacephalus nasutus

Fletcher dark kangaroo mouse

G5T2

S2

Microdipodops pallidus

pale kangaroo mouse

G3

S2

Dipodomys californicus

California kangaroo rat

G4

SA

Dipodomys deserti

desert kangaroo rat

G5

S2S3

Dipodomys merriami

Merriam’s kangaroo rat

G5

S5

Dipodomys microps

chisel-toothed kangaroo rat

G5

S5

Dipodomys ordii

Ord’s kangaroo rat

G5

S5

Dipodomys panamintinus

Panamint kangaroo rat

G5

S4

Castor canadensis

American beaver

G5

S4

Reithrodontomys megalotis

western harvest mouse

G5

S4

Peromyscus boylii

brush mouse

G5

S3

Peromyscus crinitus

canyon mouse

G5

S5

Peromyscus eremicus

cactus mouse

G5

S5

Peromyscus maniculatus

deer mouse

G5

S5

Peromyscus truei

pihon mouse

G5

S5

Onychomys leucogaster

northern grasshopper mouse

G5

S5

Onychomys torridus

southern grasshopper mouse

G5

S5

Sigmodon arizonae plenus

Arizona cotton rat

G5T2T3

SX

Neotoma albigula

white-throated woodrat

G5

SRF

Neotoma cinerea

bushy-tailed woodrat

G5

S4

Neotoma devia

Arizona woodrat

G5

SP

Neotoma lepida

desert woodrat

G5

S5

Rattus norvegicus

norway rat

G5

SE

Rattus rattus

black rat

G5

SE

18

Occasional Papers, Museum of Texas Tech University

Appendix l(cont.)

Scientific Name

Common Name

Globa! Rank

State Rank

Mus musculus

house mouse

G5

SE

Phenacomys intermedius

western heather vole

G5

SP

Microtus longicaudus

long-tailed vole

G5

S4

Microtus montanus nevadensis

Ash Meadows montane vole

G5TH

SH

Microtus montanus fucosus

Pahranagat Valley montane vole

G5T2

S2

Lemmiscus curtatus

sagebrush vole

G5

S3

Ondatra zibethicus

common muskrat

G5

S5

Zapus princeps oregonus

western jumping mouse

G5T4

S2

Erethizon dorsatum

North American porcupine

G5

S5

My ocas tor coy pus

nutria or coypu

G5

SE

Canis latrans

coyote

G5

S5

Canis lupus

gray wolf

G4

SH

Vulpes macrotis

kit fox

G4

S3

Vulpes vulpes necator

Sierra Nevada red fox

G5T3

S3

Urocyon cinereoargenteus

gray fox

G5

S5

Ursus arctos horribilis

grizzly bear

G4T3T4

SX

Ursus americanus

American black bear

G5

S4

Bassariscus astutus

ringtail

G5

S4

Procyon lotor

raccoon

G5

S5

Martes americana

American marten

G5

S2S3

Mustela erminea

ermine or short-tailed weasel

G5

S3

Mustela frenata

long-tailed weasel

G5

S5

Mustela vison

American mink

G5

S4

Gulogulo

wolverine

G4

SH

Taxidea taxus

American badger

G5

S4

Lontra canadensis

northern river otter

G5

S2

Lontra canadensis sonora

southwestern otter

G5T1

SH

Spilogale gracilis

western spotted skunk

G5

S4

Mephitis mephitis

striped skunk

G5

S5

Puma concolor

mountain lion

G5

S5

Lynx canadensis

Canada lynx

G5

SX

Lynx rufus

bobcat

G5

S5

Equus asinus

feral ass

G5

SE5

Equus caballus

feral horse

G5

SE5

Cervus canadensis

wapiti or elk

G5

S5

Odocoileus hemionus

mule or black-tailed deer

G5

S4

A Ices alces

moose

G5

SA

Antilocapra americana

pronghorn

G5

S5

Bos bison

American bison

G4

SX

Oreamnos americanus

mountain goat

G5

SE

Ovis canadensis

bighorn sheep

G4

S4

Ovis canadensis nelsoni

desert bighorn sheep

G4T4

S3

Key to NNHP Global (G-rank) and State (S-rank) ranks for threats and/or vulnerability :

G — Global rank indicator, based on worldwide distribution at the species level.

T - Global trinomial rank indicator, based on worldwide distribution at the subspecies or variety level.
S - State rank indicator, based on distribution within Nevada at the lowest taxonomic level.

Mantooth and Riddle— Checklist of Nevada Mammals

19

Appendix l(cont.)

Detailed Definitions of Ranks:

S# = Numeric rank: A numeric rank (SI through S5) of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of
occurrences of the taxon within the state. (Note: Other factors in addition to number of occurrences are
considered when assigning a rank, so the numbers of occurrences suggested for each numeric rank below are
not absolute guidelines.)

51 = Critically imperiled in the state because of extreme rarity or because of some factor(s) making it especially
vulnerable to extirpation from the state. (Typically 5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals or
acres)

52 = Imperiled in the state because of rarity or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extirpation
from the state. (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres)

53 = Rare and uncommon in the state. (21 to 100 occurrences)

54 = Widespread, abundant, and apparently secure in state, with many occurrences, but the Element is of long¬
term concern. (Usually more than 100 occurrences)

55 = Demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure in the state, and essentially ineradicable under present
conditions.

A range between two numeric ranks denotes the range of uncertainty about the exact rarity of a species or
subspecies.

Qualifiers that may be added to any given rank:

A Accidental within Nevada

B Breeding status within Nevada (excludes resident taxa)

E Exotic, introduced taxon

H Historical records; could be rediscovered

N Non-breeding status within Nevada (excludes resident taxa)

P Potential within Nevada

Q Taxonomic status uncertain

RF Reported falsely within Nevada

X Extirpated or Extinct

? Assigned Rank Uncertain

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