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]
| Dipodomys ornatus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Genus: | Dipodomys |
| Species: | D. ornatus
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| Binomial name | |
| Dipodomys ornatus Merriam, 1894
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| Distribution of D. ornatus[2][3] | |
| Synonyms[3] | |
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Distribution and habitat
editThroughout 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
editMembers 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c "Predictive species distribution model of two endemic kangaroo rats from Mexico: Dipodomys ornatus and D. phillipsii (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)". Scielo. Therya. September 2018. pp. 237–246. doi:10.12933/therya-18-605. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Dipodomys ornatus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
- ^ Merriam, Clinton Hart. "Preliminary descriptions of eleven new kangaroo rats of the genera Dipodomys and Perodipus". Biodiversity Library. Biological Society of Washington. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
- ^ a b c Hafner, Mark S.; Cervantes, Fernando A.; Fernández, Jesús A. "Molecular systematics and biogeography of the Mexican endemic kangaroo rat, Dipodomys phillipsii (Rodentia: Heteromyidae)". academic.oup.com. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
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