Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Heteromyidae |
Genus: | Dipodomys |
Species: | D. microps |
Binomial name | |
Dipodomys microps (Merriam, 1904) |
The chisel-toothed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys microps) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.
It is endemic to the United States (found in Nevada, Utah, California, Oregon, and parts of Arizona and Idaho). Their tail is 6.5 inches(136 mm) long, over two inches longer than the rest of their body, which is usually 4.25 inches. There are 13 sub-species.Saltbush leaves are a major dietary component, requiring specialized physiology to eliminate the salt while retaining water. Their usual habitat is desert shrub.