Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Kangaroo rats, small mostly nocturnal rodents of genus Dipodomys, are native to arid areas of western North America.The common name derives from their bipedal form. They hop in a manner similar to the much larger kangaroo, but developed this mode of locomotion independently, like several other clades of rodents (e.g. dipodids and hopping mice).
The desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys deserti) is a rodent species in the family Heteromyidae that is found in desert areas of southwestern North America. [2] It is one of the large kangaroo rats , with a total length greater than 12 inches (300 mm) and a mass greater than 3.2 ounces (91 g).
Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. [2] The species name commemorates Clinton Hart Merriam . It is found in the Upper and Lower Sonoran life zones of the southwestern United States , Baja California , and northern Mexico .
Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice.Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the genus Heteromys are also found in forests and their range extends as far south as northern South America.
The San Bernardino kangaroo rat follows the same body plan as Dipodomys merriami and other kangaroo rat species: large hind feet for jumping, long tail for balance while jumping, cheek pouches for foraging, and so on. Its body is about 95 millimeters (3.7 inches) long, with a total length of 230–235 mm (9.1–9.3 in).
Dipodomys ornatus, commonly known as the ornate kangaroo rat or plateau kangaroo rat, is a species of kangaroo rat in the family Heteromyidae.Found in Mexico, Dipodmys ornatus was originally thought to be a subspecies of Phillips's kangaroo rat, D. phillipsi, and was described as such in 1894 by Clinton Hart Merriam.
The currently accepted scientific name for Ord's kangaroo rat is Dipodomys ordii Woodhouse. It belongs to the family Heteromyidae, kangaroo rats and mice. Hall [5] listed 35 subspecies, but Kennedy and Schnell reported many of these subspecies are probably not legitimate since they were based on the assumption of little sexual dimorphism in the species.
The North American kangaroo rat, Australian hopping mouse, and North African and Asian jerboa have developed convergent adaptations for hot desert environments; these include a small rounded body shape with large hind legs and long thin tails, a characteristic bipedal hop, and nocturnal, burrowing and seed-eating behaviours. These rodent groups ...