Dipodomys merriami

Mearns, 1890

Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

Taxonomy

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

Species status

Living
Found in the wild
Listed in MSW3 2005

Authority citation

Mearns, E.A. 1890-02-21. Description of supposed new species and subspecies of mammals, from Arizona. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2(20):277-307.

Authority publication link

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26898754

Original name as described

Dipodomys merriami

Other common names

Margarita Island Kangaroo Rat · San Bernardino Kangaroo Rat · San José Island Kangaroo Rat

Type material

AMNH MS-2394

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-ms-2394

Type locality

New River, between Phoenix and Prescott, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA.

Biogeographic realm

Nearctic

Country distribution

United States · Mexico

Subregion distribution

USA(NM,TX,CA,UT,AZ,NV)

Taxonomy notes

includes insularis and margaritae, which have been recognized as distinct species in some publications

Taxonomy notes citation

Álvarez-Castañeda, S. T., Lidicker Jr, W. Z., & Rios, E. (2009). Revision of the Dipodomys merriami complex in the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Journal of Mammalogy, 90(4), 992-1008.

IUCN Red List status

Least Concern

Species Permalink

https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1001897

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.

Dipodomys merriami

Mearns, 1890

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

merriami

Validity status

species

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

AMNH MS-2394

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/amnh/mammals?id=urn-catalog-amnh-mammals-ms-2394

Authority page

290

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26898754

Authority publication

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:141) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)
  3. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  4. O'Brien, Menninger & Nash (2006:187) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/7321)
  5. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)
  6. Mammal Diversity Database (2018:ID #6689) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67336)
  7. Mammal Diversity Database (2019:ID #6689) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67337)
  8. Mammal Diversity Database (2024, https://www.mammaldiversity.org/taxon/1001897) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67250)
  9. Schmidly, Bradley, Yancey & Bradley (2024:44) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67259)
  10. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (2024, https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/92465716/115515430) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/67246)

Dipodomys simiolus

Rhoads, 1894

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

simiolus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ANSP 1616

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

410

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1633789

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys similis

Rhoads, 1894

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

similis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ANSP 1617

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

411

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/1633790

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys parvus

Rhoads, 1894

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

parvus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

ANSP 8213 (= SNR 1213)

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

70

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/41534971

Authority publication

The American Naturalist

Dipodomys merriami melanurus

C. H. Merriam, 1893

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

melanurus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

CAS:MAM:539

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/MamColl/index.asp?xAction=getrec&close=true&CollectionObjectID=139675

Authority page

345

Authority publication

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami olivaceus

Swarth, 1929

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

olivaceus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

CAS:MAM:6235

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://researcharchive.calacademy.org/research/bmammals/MamColl/index.asp?xAction=getrec&close=true&CollectionObjectID=145371

Authority page

356

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/3822621

Authority publication

Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami arenivagus

D. G. Elliot, 1904

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

arenivagus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

FMNH:Mamm:10733

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/fmnh/mammals?id=2027787d-7dd7-4af0-85eb-1626743a4a20

Authority page

249

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2652829

Authority publication

Field Columbian Museum, Zoölogical Series

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami mortivallis

D. G. Elliot, 1904

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

mortivallis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

FMNH:Mamm:12863

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/fmnh/mammals?id=5c549261-27e3-4234-8ad7-b157af024c53

Authority page

250

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2652830

Authority publication

Field Columbian Museum, Zoölogical Series

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys merriami collinus

Lidicker, 1960

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

collinus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:123455

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:123455

Authority page

194

Authority publication

University of California Publications in Zoology

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami vulcani

Benson, 1934

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

vulcani

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

MVZ:Mamm:56002

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

https://arctos.database.museum/guid/MVZ:Mamm:56002

Authority page

181

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34575433

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami trinidadensis

Huey, 1951

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

trinidadensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:11531

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-11531

Authority page

220

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5714581

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami llanoensis

Huey, 1951

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

llanoensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:14676

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-14676

Authority page

226

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5714719

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys merriami annulus

Huey, 1951

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

annulus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:15522

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-15522

Authority page

224

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5714717

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami quintinensis

Huey, 1951

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

quintinensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:4205

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-4205

Authority page

222

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5714715

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami semipallidus

Huey, 1927

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

semipallidus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:4271

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-4271

Authority page

65

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/4298119

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys merriami brunensis

Huey, 1951

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

brunensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

SDNHM:MAM:6904

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://portal.vertnet.org/o/sdnhm/mammals?id=urn-catalog-sdnhm-mammals-6904

Authority page

225

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/5714718

Authority publication

Transactions of the San Diego Society of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami frenatus

Bole, 1936

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

frenatus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

UMMZ 121258

Type kind

holotype

Authority page

1

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/42318378

Authority publication

Scientific Publications of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami kernensis

C. H. Merriam, 1907

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

kernensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:108884

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/35626f61e-2ee5-40c6-b2a4-66024e5a8a37

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2348201

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys platycephalus

C. H. Merriam, 1907

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

platycephalus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:139882

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3a3d29b9d-aea4-47ee-9123-efa44de2c82e

Authority page

76

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2348200

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Dipodomys margaritae

C. H. Merriam, 1907

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

margaritae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:146058

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/32d441560-1440-4a81-88e7-cb09c4092a95

Authority page

76

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2348200

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)

Dipodomys ambiguus

C. H. Merriam, 1890

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

ambiguus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:18147 (= USNM:MAMM:A25045)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/340f386e6-5f1a-4c55-929f-664c6202c112

Authority page

42

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25799833

Authority publication

North American Fauna

Dipodomys merriami regillus

E. A. Goldman, 1937

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

regillus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:203017

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/35ad83003-bac4-4c47-83cb-d9ac52f806e7

Authority page

75

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34510336

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys merriami nitratus

C. H. Merriam, 1894

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

nitratus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:25359 (= USNM:MAMM:A32772)

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/34c4d4885-7c86-421b-ba90-254d7fcf7e72

Authority page

112

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2328785

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys merriami atronasus

C. H. Merriam, 1894

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

atronasus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:50276

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/312c0f834-29e3-4dfe-9daa-cde659c112cd

Authority page

113

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2328786

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami nevadensis

C. H. Merriam, 1894

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

nevadensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:54552

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/3553be803-e1f9-4cdf-8509-f50c665e0981

Authority page

111

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2328784

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)

Dipodomys mitchelli

Mearns, 1897

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

mitchelli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:63188

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/371e8dceb-cb01-4ea2-8dba-f37fd6fb3797

Authority page

719

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7295619

Authority publication

Proceedings of the United States National Museum

Dipodomys insularis

C. H. Merriam, 1907

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

insularis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:79053

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/32c3eb821-4e29-4e15-b124-9437e7eb55dc

Authority page

77

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2348201

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Corbet & Hill (1980:140) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63069)
  2. Honacki, Kinman & Koeppl (1982:384) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/63071)

Dipodomys merriami mayensis

E. A. Goldman, 1928

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

mayensis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

available

Type

USNM:MAMM:96437

Type kind

holotype

Type specimen URI

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/38c9e0b97-f737-4342-94f2-e09b2f179f89

Authority page

141

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/34645576

Authority publication

Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami ambiguus

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

ambiguus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami insularis

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

insularis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami margaritae

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

margaritae

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami merriami

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

merriami

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami mitchelli

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

mitchelli

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami parvus

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

parvus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami platycephalus

J. L. Patton, 2005

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

platycephalus

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

name_combination

Authority publication

Baltimore

Name usages

  1. Patton (2005) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/8558)
  2. Wilson, Lacher & Mittermeier (2016:226) (information at https://hesperomys.com/a/59599)

Dipodomys merriami mortivalis

Sanborn, 1947

Family

Heteromyidae

Root name

mortivalis

Validity status

synonym

Nomenclatural status

incorrectsubsequentspelling

Authority page

237

Authority page URI

https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/2833261

Authority publication

Fieldiana Zoology

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