Dipodomyinae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article does not cite any references or sources. (October 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
Dipodomyinae Fossil range: Late Miocene - Recent |
||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kangaroo rat
|
||||||||||||
Scientific classification | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Genera | ||||||||||||
The subfamily Dipodomyinae contains two genera:
- Dipodomys - kangaroo rats
- Microdipodops - kangaroo mice
Members of the Dipodomyinae, as implied by both their common and scientific names, are bipedal; they also jump exceptionally well. Kangaroo rats and mice are native to the desert ecosystems of the Southwestern United States, are generally herbivorous foragers, and dig and live in burrows.