Microdipodops oregonus

C. H. Merriam, 1901

Oregon Kangaroo Mouse

Taxonomy

Subclass : Theria
Infraclass : Placentalia
Magnorder : Boreoeutheria
Superorder : Euarchontoglires
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Supramyomorpha
Infraorder : Castorimorphi
Superfamily : Geomyoidea
Family : Heteromyidae
Subfamily : Dipodomyinae
Genus : Microdipodops
Subgenus : Microdipodops

Species status

Living
Found in the wild

Authority citation

Merriam, C.H. 1901-07-19. Descriptions of three new kangaroo mice of the genus Microdipodops. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 14:127-128.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2338927

Original name as described

Microdipodops megacephalus oregonus

Other common names

Dark Kangaroo Mouse

Type material

USNM:MAMM:80128

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/364ba17c1-8144-4ac4-a42d-3e881ed1234d

Type locality

"Lake Alvord, Alvord Desert, eastern Oregon", USA.

Biogeographic realm

Nearctic

Country distribution

United States

Subregion distribution

USA(CA, ID, OR, NV)

Taxonomy notes

split from M. megacephalus; the name californicus may be the name actually applicable to this species because both oregonus and californicus were described in the same paper, but californicus was described as a species and oregonus as a subspecies, giving priority to californicus over oregonus based on Article 24.1 of the ICZN Code; oregonus is tentatively retained as the name for this species

Taxonomy notes citation

Hafner, J.C., Upham, N.S., Gowen-Huang, F. and Light, J.E. 2025. Cryptic species and taxonomic revision of kangaroo mice, the rodent genus Microdipodops. Journal of Mammalogy 106(6):1342-1371. doi:10.1093/jmammal/gyaf070

IUCN Red List status

Not Evaluated

Species Permalink

https://mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1007009

Country distribution map

The map below provides a general overview. Most species inhabit only specific regions within countries. Hover over the highlighted regions to see the country name.

Names and synonyms

Present and past (if available) associated names to the species. Click on a name to view its details. If the list is long, scroll down to see more.

Microdipodops californicus

C. H. Merriam, 1901

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

californicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:101227

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3586aed3f-8b9e-443e-a9ba-60d055c213d9

Authority page

128

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2338928

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Trouessart (1904:481, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423362) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  2. Miller (1912:280, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7828385) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/11760)
  3. Grinnell (1933:166) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69515)

Microdipodops megacephalus oregonus

C. H. Merriam, 1901

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

oregonus

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:80128

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/364ba17c1-8144-4ac4-a42d-3e881ed1234d

Authority page

127

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2338927

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Trouessart (1904:481, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/53423362) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59289)
  2. Miller (1912:280, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7828385) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/11760)
  3. Grinnell, Dixon & Linsdale (1930:509) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/71835)
  4. Grinnell (1933:165) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/69515)
  5. Bailey (1936:241, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25806162) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/35313)
  6. Hall (1941:248, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772101) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16205)
  7. Williams, Genoways & Braun (1993:95) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34982)
  8. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  9. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:2) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Microdipodops megacephalus ambiguus

E. R. Hall, 1941

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

ambiguus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:73840

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:73840

Authority page

252

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772105

Authority publication

Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series

Name usages

  1. Hall (1941:252, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772105) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16205)
  2. Williams, Genoways & Braun (1993:93) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34982)
  3. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  4. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:2) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Microdipodops megacephalus medius

E. R. Hall, 1941

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

medius

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:73890

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:73890

Authority page

256

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772109

Authority publication

Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series

Name usages

  1. Hall (1941:256, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772109) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16205)
  2. Williams, Genoways & Braun (1993:94) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34982)
  3. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  4. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:2) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Microdipodops megacephalus californicus

E. R. Hall, 1941

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

californicus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

250

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772103

Authority publication

Field Museum of Natural History, Zoological Series

Name usages

  1. Hall (1941:250, https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2772103) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/16205)
  2. Williams, Genoways & Braun (1993:93) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/34982)
  3. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  4. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:2) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Microdipodops oregonus

J. C. Hafner, Upham, Gowen-Huang, & Light, 2025

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

oregonus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority page

1361

Authority publication

Journal of Mammalogy

Name usages

Hafner, Upham, Gowen-Huang & Light (2025:1361) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/72455)

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