Heteromyidae

Family Heteromyidae
Family Heteromyidae;
Taxonomic classification
Order:	Rodentia
Suborder:	Supramyomorpha
Infraorder:	Castorimorphi
Superfamily:	Geomyoidea

Introduction

From Hoffmeister (1986): "Relatively small-bodied rodents with long tails, most modified for jumping, with hind limbs elongated and forelimbs shortened, cheek pouches fur-lined and open externally, interparietal reduced, auditory bullae greatly inflated, incisors thin and compressed, no post-orbital process." Except for spiny pocket mice (Heteromys), heteromyids have grooved upper incisors. Five genera can be found in the United States: Chaetodipus, Dipodomys, Heteromys, Microdipodops, and Perognathus.

Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ingens), the largest species of Heteromyidae in North America
Silky Pocket Mouse (Perognathus flavus), the smallest species of Heteromyidae in North America
Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys merriami)
Hispid Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus)
Owyhee Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus)
Mexican Spiny Pocket Mouse (Heteromys irroratus)
Reduced interparietal, shown in the Ord's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii)
Inflated auditory bullae, shown in the Ord's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii)
Greatly inflated auditory bullae in the Lahontan Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops pallidus)
Fur-lined cheek pouches in the Plains Pocket Mouse (Perognathus flavescens). Arrow points to the inside of one of the fur-lined cheek pouches, which can be expanded greatly to accommodate and transport seeds.