Dipodomys ornatus

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Dipodomys ornatus
Dipodomys ornatus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Heteromyidae
Genus: Dipodomys
Species:
D. ornatus
Binomial name
Dipodomys ornatus
Merriam, 1894
Dipodomys ornatus distribution map.png
Distribution of D. ornatus [2] [3]
Synonyms [3]
  • Dipodomys phillipsii subsp. ornatus Merriam, 1894

Dipodomys ornatus, commonly known as the ornate kangaroo rat or plateau kangaroo rat, is a species of kangaroo rat in the family Heteromyidae. Found in Mexico, Dipodmys ornatus was originally thought to be a subspecies of Phillips's kangaroo rat, D. phillipsi, and was described as such in 1894 by Clinton Hart Merriam. [4] [3] [2] It was recognized as a subspecies until 2012. [5]

Contents

Distribution and habitat

Throughout Mexico, D. ornatus is found in primarily central areas; Aguascalientes, Durango, Guanajuato, Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, and Zacatecas. [2] [5] They are located in areas with cacti, namely the prickly pear species, along with catclaw. [3]

Description

Members of the species Dipodomys ornatus exhibit sexual dimorphism in that males and females vary in size, with the males being marginally longer; in both genders, the species' black and white and somewhat long tail can be compared to its body, which is mostly colored like cinnamon. [3] It is four-toed on its hindfeet, and, on average, it is medium-sized compared to other kangaroo rat species (being 252–302 mm long). [5]

References

  1. ↑ Hafner, D. (2019). "Dipodomys ornatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T92464382A92464420. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T92464382A92464420.en . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Predictive species distribution model of two endemic kangaroo rats from Mexico: Dipodomys ornatus and D. phillipsii (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)". Therya. 9 (3): 237–246. September 2018. doi: 10.12933/therya-18-605 . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Dipodomys ornatus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  4. ↑ Merriam, Clinton Hart (1894). "Preliminary descriptions of eleven new kangaroo rats of the genera Dipodomys and Perodipus". Biodiversity Library. Biological Society of Washington . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  5. 1 2 3 Hafner, Mark S.; Cervantes, Fernando A.; Fernández, Jesús A. (2012). "Molecular systematics and biogeography of the Mexican endemic kangaroo rat, Dipodomys phillipsii (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)". Journal of Mammalogy. 93 (2): 560–571. doi:10.1644/11-MAMM-A-224.1 . Retrieved 5 October 2024.


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