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
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Heteromyidae
Genus: Dipodomys
Species:
D. ornatus
Binomial name
Dipodomys ornatus
Merriam, 1894
Distribution of D. ornatus[2][3]
Synonyms[3]
  • Dipodomys phillipsii subsp. ornatus Merriam, 1894

Distribution and habitat

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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

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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

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  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. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Dipodomys ornatus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.