14 October 2010

ID confirmation of a couple Carrizo Plains Rodents

I was out at the Carrizo Plain last week and did quite well, despite being limited to the paved road at the southern end, due to extremely wet and muddy conditions. I spent about 3 1/2 hours there, hiking and cruising, and conservatively saw 60+ rodents. There were at least 7 species, however I was only able to photograph 2.

I’m pretty sure these are San Joaquin Pocket Mice, Perognathus inornatus.

I think this is Peromyscus maniculatus.

I also saw the 3 K-rats, Southern Grasshopper Mouse, and a California Pocket Mouse.

Thanks,

Curtis Hart

Post Views: 818

4 Comments

14 October 2010

vladimir dinets

Yep, both IDs seem correct to me.

Log in to Reply
15 October 2010

Coke Smith

The ID’s look good. What three K-rats did you see? Or were they three of the same? The Carizzo is a spectacular place for sure.

http://cokesmithphototravel.com/California_Road_Trip_2010_.html

http://www.pbase.com/cokesmith/carrizo_plain_national_monument

Log in to Reply
- 15 October 2010
  
  Curtis Hart
  
  Dipodomys heermanni
  Dipodomys ingens
  Dipodomys nitratoides
  
  I didn’t get the greatest looks at the smaller ones, but I did see all three, sometimes at once. Of the 60+ rodents that night, I’d say 40 or more were K-rats.
  
  Log in to Reply
- 15 October 2010
  
  Curtis Hart
  
  BTW your unknown snake is a Gopher Snake, Pituophis catenifer.
  
  Log in to Reply