Kangaroo rats Temporal range: Late Pliocene – Recent |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Heteromyidae |
Subfamily: | Dipodomyinae |
Genus: |
Dipodomys Gray, 1841 |
Species | |
Dipodomys agilis |
Dipodomys agilis
Dipodomys californicus
Dipodomys compactus
Dipodomys deserti
Dipodomys elator
Dipodomys elephantinus
Dipodomys gravipes
Dipodomys heermanni
Dipodomys ingens
Dipodomys merriami
Dipodomys microps
Dipodomys nelsoni
Dipodomys nitratoides
Dipodomys ordii
Dipodomys panamintinus
Dipodomys phillipsii
Dipodomys simulans
Dipodomys spectabilis
Dipodomys stephensi
Dipodomys venustus
Kangaroo rats, small rodents of genus Dipodomys, are native to western North America. The common name derives from their bipedal form. They hop in a manner similar to the much larger kangaroo, but developed this mode of locomotion independently, like several other clades of rodents (e.g. dipodids and hopping mice).