Family: Heteromyidae, Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats view all from this family
Description Medium-sized five-toed kangaroo rat with yellowish-brown upperparts overlain with black hairs. Narrow lateral white tail stripes are indistinctly demarcated from the dark stripes (not sharply demarcated broad lateral stripes as in the Agile Kangaroo Rat).
Dimensions 277-300mm, 164-180mm, 45-73g
Endangered Status The Stephens' Kangaroo Rat is on the U.S. Endangered Species List. It is classified as endangered in California. Agricultural development and encroaching urbanization have limited this kangaroo rat to isolated populations in its San Jacinto Valley range. Cattle grazing, off-road vehicles, the poisoning of other rodent pests, and other factors continue to threaten the species, and any one of these quite easily could wipe out an entire population.
Similar Species Has smaller ears (12-14mm) and occupies more open habitats than the Agile and Dulzura kangaroo rats.
Habitat Scrub, shrub & brushlands, Grasslands & prairies, Meadows & fields
Discussion Seriously Endangered by agricultural and urban development, now restricted to Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, California. Found in sparse grasslands and coastal sage-scrub habitats from 85-850m.