Microdipodops megacephalus
Dark Kangaroo Mouse
(Microdipodops megacephalus) | |
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Range | |
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Taxonomic classification | |
Order: | Rodentia |
Suborder: | Supramyomorpha |
Infraorder: | Castorimorphi |
Family: | Heteromyidae |
Subfamily: | Dipodomyinae |
Genus: | Microdipodops |
Binomial details | |
Microdipodops megacephalus Merriam, 1891 |
Description
From O’Farrell & Blaustein (1974a): "The dark kangaroo mouse is brownish, blackish, or grayish above and the underparts are basally plumbeous and white-tipped.... The tail is wider near the center than at either end."
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "The Dark Kangaroo Mouse is brownish, blackish, or gray dorsally; its venter is paler, but the base of the hairs is dark or smoky. The upper part of the tail is clearly darker than the body."

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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California | Jameson & Peeters (2004) | 140–177 | 68–103 | 23–25 | 10–17 | |
not reported | O'Farrell & Blaustein (1974) | 140–177 | 68–103 | 23–27 | 10.0–16.9 |
Similar species
From O’Farrell & Blaustein (1974a): "The dark kangaroo mouse is brownish, blackish, or grayish above and the underparts are basally plumbeous and white-tipped, whereas M. pallidus is pale pinkish cinnamon above and the hair of underparts is white to the base. The distal half of the tail is usually darker than the back. The hind foot is slightly smaller (23 to 25 mm) than that of M. pallidus (> 25 mm}."
From O’Farrell & Blaustein (1974b): "Hall (1946) presented evidence that hybridization occurs between M. pallidus and M. megacephalus in Penoyer Valley, N of Groom Baldy, Lincoln Co., Nevada."
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "This species is distinguished from the Pale Kangaroo Mouse (M. pallidus) by color and by a smaller hind foot."
Skull
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "The incisive foramina are pointed, converging anteriorly and wider posteriorly."
References
Hall ER. 1946. Mammals of Nevada. Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.
Jameson EW, Peeters HJ. 2004. Mammals of California (No. 66). Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.
Merriam CH. 1891. Description of a New Genus and Species of Dwarf Kangaroo Rat from Nevada (Microdipodops megacephalus). North American Fauna 5: 116.
O’Farrell MJ, Blaustein AR. 1974a. Microdipodops megacephalus. Mammalian Species 46: 1-3.
O’Farrell MJ, Blaustein AR. 1974b. Microdipodops pallidus. Mammalian Species (47): 1-2.