Dipodomys merriami

Merriam's kangaroo rat

Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Heteromyidae
Genus:	Dipodomys
Species:	D. merriami
Binomial name
*Dipodomys merriami* Mearns, 1890
Subspecies
Dipodomys merriami ambiguus Dipodomys merriami annulus Dipodomys merriami arenivagus Dipodomys merriami atronasus Dipodomys merriami brunensis Dipodomys merriami collinus Dipodomys merriami frenatus Dipodomys merriami insularis Dipodomys merriami margaritae Dipodomys merriami mayensis Dipodomys merriami melanurus Dipodomys merriami mitchelli Dipodomys merriami olivaceus Dipodomys merriami parvus Dipodomys merriami platycephalus Dipodomys merriami quintinensis Dipodomys merriami trinidadensis Dipodomys merriami vulcani

Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. The species name commemorates Clinton Hart Merriam.

Dipodomys merriami is found in the Upper and Lower Sonoran life zones of the southwestern United States, Baja California, and northern Mexico.

Merriam's kangaroo rats, like other kangaroo rats and pocket mice, are members of the family Heteromyidae. Each species within this family has fur-lined food storage pouches. The cheek pouch is utilized as a portable cache for food while foraging. Kangaroo rats are named for their extremely long, kangaroo-like hind feet and they are almost completely bipedal. They hop or jump rather than scurry or run. Because of this, most heteromyid rodents also have a relatively long tail that acts to counterbalance the hopping/jumping form of locomotion.

Fur color varies between populations within the species' range, but the back color is generally light brown or tan. The merriami species is smaller than most of the other kangaroo rats in the southwest. Adults average about 14 inches in length. The tail is relatively long with a large tuft of hair at the tip. The tuft is thought to act like fletching on an arrow, providing drag to keep the animal stable during locomotion. merriami have four toes on each hind foot in contrast to the pacific kangaroo rat, Dipodomys simulans and the Stephens' kangaroo rat, Dipodomys stephensi (both kangaroo rat species also found in San Diego County), which have five toes.

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