Dipus | |
---|---|
Northern three-toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta) | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Dipodidae |
Tribe: | Dipodini |
Genus: | Dipus Zimmermann, 1780 |
Species | |
Dipus is a genus of jerboa. Today only a single species is usually recognized, the northern three-toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta), widespread throughout Central Asia. Some authors recognize a second species, the Qaidam three-toed jerboa (Dipus deasyi) from the Qaidam Basin of western China.[1] The genus has a fossil record that dates back to the Miocene, with several extinct species known from Asia.[2][3] The oldest dated species is Dipus conditor.