The California pocket mouse (Chaetodipus californicus) is a species of nocturnal and primarily solitary rodent in the family Heteromyidae.

[2] Despite their being relatively widespread over the majority of central and southern California, the known habitat of the Californian pocket mouse is shrinking due to climate change and other human activities such as residential development.

[4] Its fur is brown on top and tan underneath with distinct white hairs, or spines, near the rump.

C. californicus is often mistaken for C. fallax (San Diego pocket mouse) which shares some of the same habitat but has smaller and rounder ears.

Like all members of the Family Heteromyidae, C. californicus has external cheek pouches which it uses to store seeds.