The color of the back and sides is brown, the hairs having a dark gray base, a grayish-fawn centre and black tips.

[3] It closely resembles the lined pocket mouse (Chaetodipus lineatus) but that species lacks the stiff spines on the rump.

desert spoon and Agave lechuguilla grow,[1] on sandy flat areas, in rock piles, in old walls, around old buildings and in bare overgrazed pasture.

After nightfall it emerges to forage, tending to move from the base of one plant to another, seldom staying long on open ground and running (rather than hopping) only when startled.

There are several national parks or other protected areas within its distribution range and no particular threats have been identified, so the IUCN has assessed this pocket mouse as being of "least concern".