Gulf Coast kangaroo rat
| Gulf Coast kangaroo rat | |
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| Species: | D. compactus
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| Binomial name | |
| Dipodomys compactus True, 1889
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The Gulf Coast kangaroo rat (Dipodomys compactus) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae found in Mexico and the United States.[2] Its appearance and ecology are very similar to its putative sister-species, Ord's kangaroo rat.[3]
Description
Adult Gulf Coast kangaroo rats are about 220 mm (8.7 in) long including a tail of about 120 mm (4.7 in). There are two distinct color forms, an ashy gray and a reddish- or yellowish-buff. In both cases the purest color is on the sides and flanks with hairs in the dorsal region having dark tips giving a blackish sheen. The cheeks are white and the ears and upper and lower tail stripes are brown. This species is generally paler in color than other kangaroo rats and can be distinguished from the similar Ord's kangaroo rat by the shorter, uncrested tail and the shorter, coarser fur.[4]
Distribution
The Gulf Coast kangaroo rat is found in southeastern Texas, southwards from Bexar and Gonzales counties, and in Zapata County, in Mustang Island and Padre Island, just off the coast of Texas, and in the barrier islands off the state of Tamaulipas in Mexico.[1][4]
References
- ^ a b Template:IUCN2008
- ^ 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. 845. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
- ^ Alexander, L.F.; B.R. Riddle (2005). "Phylogenetics of the New World rodent family Heteromyidae". Journal of Mammalogy. 86 (2): 366–379. doi:10.1644/ber-120.1.
- ^ a b Baumgardner, George D. (1991). "Dipodomys compactus". Mammalian Species. 369: 1–4. doi:10.2307/3504093. JSTOR 3504093.
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