Dipodomys spectabilis
Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat
(Dipodomys spectabilis) | |
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Range | |
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Taxonomic classification | |
Order: | Rodentia |
Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
Infraorder: | Castorimorphi |
Family: | Heteromyidae |
Subfamily: | Dipodomyinae |
Genus: | Dipodomys |
Binomial details | |
Dipodomys spectabilis Merriam, 1890 |
Description
From Armstrong et al. (2010): "The banner-tailed kangaroo rat is a large rodent, similar in color to the much smaller Ord's kangaroo rat [Dipodomys ordii] except that the tail, with its large white top and proximal black band, is even more striking (hence the vernacular and scientific names). Only 4 toes are present on the hindfoot. The lateral tail stripes extend only about half the length of the tail."
From Hoffmeister (1986): "A large species of Dipodomys with the distal half of the tail black that is conspicuously tipped terminally with white; hind feet long, usually more than 45 mm, and with only four toes; skull with auditory bullae greatly enlarged but not to the point of eliminating the supraoccipital and interparietal; maxillary arches heavy and flared out."

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 |
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Arizona (Cochise County, vicinity of San Simon and Willcox) | Hoffmeister (1986) | 322–353 (n=13) | 180–206 (n=13) | 45–57 (n=13) | ||
Arizona (Santa Cruz County, vicinity of Nogales) | Hoffmeister (1986) | 318–351 (n=16) | 182–204 (n=16) | 46–54 (n=16) | ||
Colorado | Armstrong et al. (2010) | 310–350 | 180–210 | 47–51 | 90–135 | |
New Mexico (Lincoln County, vicinity of Roswell) | Hoffmeister (1986) | 340–373 (n=13) | 191–221 (n=13) | 53–56 (n=13) | ||
Texas | Schmidly & Bradley (2016) | 350 | 210 | 53 | 115 |
Similar species
From Armstrong et al. (2010): "The banner-tailed kangaroo rat differs from Ord's kangaroo rat [Dipodomys ordii] in having 4 toes on the hindfeet and a striking white-tipped tail with a solid black band proximal to the white tip."
From Hoffmeister (1986): "D. spectabilis, because of its large size, long feet, four toes only on hind feet, and large skulls, needs comparison only with D. deserti. 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."
References
Armstrong DM, Fitzgerald JP, Meaney CA. 2010. Mammals of Colorado, Second Edition. Denver (CO, USA): University Press of Colorado.
Hoffmeister DF. 1986. Mammals of Arizona. Tucson (AZ, USA): University of Arizona Press.
Schmidly DJ, Bradley RD. 2016. The mammals of Texas. Austin (TX, USA): University of Texas Press.