Dipodomys merriami Mearns, 1890

Merriam's kangaroo rat

Species recognized by The Integrated Taxonomic Information System external link, T Orrell (custodian) in 
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC) external link Showing: scientific names

Media Center Navigation

  

Table of Contents

General Description

Description

Source and Additional Information
Supplier
Smithsonian's North American Mammals external link
Copyright
Some rights reserved external link
Project
Smithsonian Institution - North American Mammals external link
Source URL
View original data object external link

Like all members of the family Heteromyidae, Merriam's Kangaroo Rat is found only in the New World. Many kangaroo rats have rather specific habitat preferences, but Merriam's Kangaroo Rat is not one of these. It can inhabit arid regions where the ground is predominantly rocks, gravel, sand, or clay. Like other kangaroo rats (and kangaroo mice), it specializes in bipedal locomotion, which means that it usually moves around by hopping on two feet, like a chubby little kangaroo. The hindquarters of kangaroo rats and mice are strong and well developed to support this method of locomotion. Some kangaroo rats can leap 2 m (more than 6 feet) at a single bound.

Links:
Mammal Species of the World
References
  • Mearns, E.A., 1890.  Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 2:290.
"Dipodomys merriami Mearns, 1890". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/328112". Accessed 21 Mar 2010.