Dipodomys venustus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	MAMMALIA	RODENTIA	HETEROMYIDAE

Scientific Name:

Dipodomys venustus

Species Authority

(Merriam, 1904)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Narrow-faced Kangaroo Rat

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s

Linzey, A.V. & NatureServe (Hammerson, G.)

Evaluator/s:

Amori, G. (Small Nonvolant Mammal Red List Authority) & Chanson, J. (Global Mammal Assessment Team)

Justification:
Listed as Least Concern, although its extent of occurrence is very close to 20,000 km², its populations are relatively secure, there are no major threats to the species throughout its range, and it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

History:

1996

–

Lower Risk/least concern (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The species' range includes coastal mountains of west-central California in the United States; the species is historically known from San Mateo County southward to San Luis Obispo County, and east to San Benito County; from near sea level to 1,770 m asl (Best, 1992; Best et al., 1996).
Countries:	Native: United States
Range Map:	(click map to view full version)

Population [top]

Population:	For the species as a whole, the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size probably are relatively stable or are declining at a rate of less than 10% over 10 years or three generations. Subspecies venustus is declining in range and abundance. Recent extirpations have occurred (Caitlin Bean pers. comm., 2004). Subspecies elephantinus is probably stable. Subspecies sanctiluciae is unknown but probably relatively stable. The three subspecies are known from roughly 50 locations (Caitlin Bean, unpublished map, 2004) that represent probably no more than three dozen distinct occurrences, and not all of these are extant. Subspecies venustus is currently known from just one extant population (Caitlin Bean pers. comm., 2004). The total adult population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 10,000.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Population:

For the species as a whole, the extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size probably are relatively stable or are declining at a rate of less than 10% over 10 years or three generations. Subspecies venustus is declining in range and abundance. Recent extirpations have occurred (Caitlin Bean pers. comm., 2004). Subspecies elephantinus is probably stable. Subspecies sanctiluciae is unknown but probably relatively stable.

The three subspecies are known from roughly 50 locations (Caitlin Bean, unpublished map, 2004) that represent probably no more than three dozen distinct occurrences, and not all of these are extant. Subspecies venustus is currently known from just one extant population (Caitlin Bean pers. comm., 2004). The total adult population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 10,000.

Population Trend:

Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The narrow-faced kangaroo rat occurs on maritime slopes covered with chaparral or a mixture of chaparral and oaks. It burrows in sandy, well-drained, deep soils. Subspecies venustus and sanctiluciae inhabit chaparral and chaparral mixed with oaks or digger pine, including sandy, well-drained, and deep soils that have been disturbed by human activity, typically on steep slopes. Shelters and nests are in underground burrows and burrows have been found in open, abandoned agricultural land; one individual may have multiple burrows. Subspecies elephantinus occurs on slopes, flats, and ridgetops with friable soil in mixed and chamise chaparral in oak/pine woodland zone, typically under dense vegetation (sympatric Dipodomys heermanni occupies adjacent open habitat) (Best, 1986). Young are born in underground burrows. The narrow-faced kangaroo rat produces one to two litters of two to four young each year (see Best, 1992). Diet includes seeds of annuals and some green vegetation. Caches seeds underground or in surface pits.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The narrow-faced kangaroo rat occurs on maritime slopes covered with chaparral or a mixture of chaparral and oaks. It burrows in sandy, well-drained, deep soils. Subspecies venustus and sanctiluciae inhabit chaparral and chaparral mixed with oaks or digger pine, including sandy, well-drained, and deep soils that have been disturbed by human activity, typically on steep slopes. Shelters and nests are in underground burrows and burrows have been found in open, abandoned agricultural land; one individual may have multiple burrows. Subspecies elephantinus occurs on slopes, flats, and ridgetops with friable soil in mixed and chamise chaparral in oak/pine woodland zone, typically under dense vegetation (sympatric Dipodomys heermanni occupies adjacent open habitat) (Best, 1986). Young are born in underground burrows. The narrow-faced kangaroo rat produces one to two litters of two to four young each year (see Best, 1992). Diet includes seeds of annuals and some green vegetation. Caches seeds underground or in surface pits.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	There are no major threats to the species throughout its range. Threats to the subspecies venustus include habitat loss/degradation and fragmentation as a result of urbanization, residential development, and sand mining.

Major Threat(s):

There are no major threats to the species throughout its range. Threats to the subspecies venustus include habitat loss/degradation and fragmentation as a result of urbanization, residential development, and sand mining.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	The range of the species includes a few protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

The range of the species includes a few protected areas.

Citation:	Linzey, A.V. & Hammerson, G. 2008. Dipodomys venustus. In: IUCN 2008. 2008 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 20 November 2008.
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