Dipodomys merriami insularis
| San José Island kangaroo rat | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Genus: | Dipodomys |
| Species: | D. merriami |
| Subspecies: | D. m. insularis |
| Trinomial name | |
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Dipodomys merriami insularis Merriam, 1907 |
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The San José Island kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami insularis) is a subspecies of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to Mexico, where it is found only on San José Island off the east coast of Baja California Sur. (Dipodomys merriami insularis) is restricted to an area of only 30 km2 in the southwestern coast of San José Island, Lower California, with the population having been drastically reduced in size and being close to extinction No other species of Dipodomys occur in sympatry with D. insularis.
Dipodomys insularis is among the smallest of the kangaroo rats. Compared to other Dipodomys merriami, Dipodomys insularis has larger ears, a grayer coloration, and a more robust appearance. It has a lower bullar index and a lower cranial index of any of the Dipodomys merriami sub-species. D. insularis also differs from its closest geographic relatives D. m. brunensis and D. m. melanurus by being larger in most respects, by being paler in coloration, and having considerably larger ears. This nocturnal Kangaroo Rat is a granivore, feeding on seeds and shrubs.
Its natural habitat is hot deserts. It is threatened by habitat degradation by feral goats, and predation by feral cats. Adults are solitary and each maintain their own personal burrow.
Its micro-habitat includes areas of low vegetation cover and small-grain soil. The Dipodomys insularis will not inhabit areas where the soil is smooth, such as areas near riverbeds, or if vegetation cover is too low.
San José Island Kangaroo Rats utilize burrows for food storage, protection from the sun and predators, breeding, and shelter. Dipodomys insularis creates burrows that are underground tunnels networked together with one or more entrance points. They each use 1 or 2 burrows and no more than 2 rodents inhabit each burrow. Burrows containing the opposite sex are usually found closer in distance than those that contain D. insularis of same sex. Most often, during breeding season, a male and female share a burrow. After giving birth the females were found sharing their burrows with their offspring as well. Adult San José Island Kangaroo Rats seem less prone to sharing burrows than do subadults, unless it is with the opposite sex during mating season.
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Wikipedia