Microdipodops pallidus
Pallid Kangaroo Mouse
(Microdipodops pallidus) | |
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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 pallidus Merriam, 1901 |
Description
From O’Farrell & Blaustein (1974): "The pale kangaroo mouse is pale pinkish cinnamon above with the hair of underparts white to the base.... The tail is wider near the center than at either end."
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "This kangaroo mouse has a rather pale pink dorsum and a white venter; both dorsal and ventral hairs are white at the base. The tail is about the same color as the body, not blackish or dark at the tip. The hind foot is 25 mm or longer (longer than in the Dark Kangaroo Mouse [M. megacephalus])."
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) | 85–90 | 25–26 | 10–17 | ||
not reported | O'Farrell & Blaustein (1974) | 150–173 | 74–99 | 25–27 | 10.3–16.8 |
Similar species
From O’Farrell & Blaustein (1974): "The pale kangaroo mouse is pale pinkish cinnamon above with the hair of underparts white to the base, whereas M. megacephalus is brownish, blackish, or grayish above with underparts basally plumbeous and white-tipped. The upper parts of the tail are approximately the same color as upper body parts and lacking a black tip. The hind foot is slightly larger than that of M. megacephalus (greater than 25 mm rather than 23 to 25 mm).... "Hall (1946) presented evidence that hybridization occurs between M. pallidus and M. megacephalus in Penoyer Valley, N of Groom Baldy, Lincoln Co., Nevada."
Skull characters
From Jameson & Peeters (2004): "The incisive foramina have parallel outer margins."
References
Jameson EW, Peeters HJ. 2004. Mammals of California (No. 66). Berkeley (CA, USA): University of California Press.
Merriam CH. 1901. Descriptions of Three New Kangaroo Mice of the Genus Microdipodops. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 14: 127.
O’Farrell MJ, Blaustein AR. 1974. Microdipodops pallidus. Mammalian Species (47): 1-2.