Ord's kangaroo rat

Ord's kangaroo rat
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Heteromyidae
Genus: Dipodomys
Species:
D. ordii
Binomial name
Dipodomys ordii
Woodhouse, 1853

Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) is a kangaroo rat native to western North America, specifically the Great Plains and the Great Basin, with its range extending from extreme southern Canada to central Mexico.[2][3]

Ord's kangaroo rat has a fifth toe on its hip feet, which distinguishes it from Dipodomys elator. It is bicolored with gold-brown dorsal hair and a white stomach. It has a long tail with a bushy tip, and is dark dorsally and ventrally with a white lateral stripe. Its hind feet are modified for jumping, and exceed 35 mm in length, and its total length exceeds 240 mm. Its tail is usually less than 160 mm, distinguishing it from D. elator (which exceeds 160 mm).

Though a common species in the United States, the population in Canada is considered endangered.[4]

  1. ^ Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Dipodomys ordii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6691A115083268. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6691A22229045.en. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ^ Patton, J.L. (2005). "Family Heteromyidae". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M (eds.). Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 847. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Teh, Poh-lin (2001). "ADW : Dipodomys ordii : Information". Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan). Archived from the original on 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  4. ^ "Species at Risk - Ord's Kangaroo Rat". Environment Canada. 2006-05-08. Archived from the original on 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-15.