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Dipodomys deserti

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Desert Kangaroo Rat
(Dipodomys deserti)
Range
Taxonomic classification
Order:Rodentia
Suborder:Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:Castorimorphi
Family:Heteromyidae
Subfamily:Dipodomyinae
Genus:Dipodomys
Binomial details
Dipodomys deserti Stephens, 1887

Description

From Hoffmeister (1986): "A large species of Dipodomys; tail with white tip; hind feet long and four-toed; skull large with interparietal usually absent or not visible and supraoccipital greatly reduced; auditory bullae greatly inflated; maxillary wings of zygomata relatively weak; external auditory meatus large and oval shaped; ventral tail stripe absent or narrow and pale in color."

From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "A very large kangaroo rat, very pale buff in color. The tail has a white tip and usually also lacks a ventral dark stripe. The hind foot has four toes."

Dipodomys deserti photographed in Mojave National Preserve, California, by Kyle Nessen.

External measurements

Length measurements are in millimeters (mm) and weight measurements are in grams (g), unless stated otherwise. If available, the sample size (n=) is provided. If a range is not provided and n= is not given, then the listed measurement represents an average.

Part of range Reference Total length Tail length Hindfoot length Ear length Mass
Arizona (Mohave County, vicinity of Beaver Dam and Pakoon) Hoffmeister (1986) males: 324–354 (n=6); females: 315–348 (n=10) males: 184–209 (n=6); females:175–203 (n=10) males: 51–54 (n=6); females: 50–54 (n=10)
Arizona (Pinal County, vicinity of Picacho) Hoffmeister (1986) males: 332–358 (n=9); females: 341–353 (n=6) males: 193–212 (n=9); females: 196–210 (n=6) males: 52–56 (n=9); females: 49–54 (n=6)
Arizona (Yuma County, vicinity of Somerton) Hoffmeister (1986) males: 315–360 (n=7); females: 318–347 (n=7) males: 181–212 (n=7); females: 177–205 (n=7) males: 52–58 (n=7); females: 51–56 (n=7)
California Jameson & Peeters (2004) 305–377 180–215 50–58 83–138
not reported Ceballos (editor, 2014) 305–377 180–215 50–58 15–18 83–138


Skull

Placeholder image
Image(s) coming soon. We are currently imaging this skull.

Similar species

From Hoffmeister (1986): "D. spectabilis differs from D. deserti as follows: terminal white tip on tail more conspicuous; dorsal and ventral dark stripes on tail unite to form a nearly solid subterminal area of black or dark gray; interparietal present and supraoccipital narrow, but usually 1.0 mm wide or greater at narrowest constriction; suture between frontal and maxillary arm of zygomatic arch longer; rostrum heavier; external auditory meatus rounder and smaller; ventral stripe on tail darker and broader."

Dipodomys spectabilis observed by Enrique Perez Carrillo. Notice that this species has a striking white-tipped tail with a solid black band proximal to the white tip. The terminal white tip on the tail is more conspicuous in this species than in D. deserti.

References

Ceballos G, editor. 2014. Mammals of Mexico. Baltimore (MD, USA): Johns Hopkins University Press.

Hoffmeister DF. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. Tucson (AZ, USA): University of Arizona Press.

Jameson EW, Peeters HJ. 2004. Mammals of California (No. 66). Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.

Stephens F. 1887. Description of a New Species of Dipodomys, with Some Account of Its Habits. American Naturalist 21, 42.

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