Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat

About the Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat

The chisel-toothed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys microps) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. There are 13 sub-species. Saltbush leaves are a major dietary component, requiring specialized physiology to eliminate the salt while retaining water.

They range between 268.4–273 mm (10.57–10.75 in) long with their body length from 100–116 mm (3.9–4.6 in) and tails being longer than their body ranges between 136–190 mm (5.4–7.5 in). Their hind feet are approximately 40% the length of their body and ranges between 40–45 mm (1.6–1.8 in) and the front limbs being much shorter. Males tend to be a bit larger than the females. Their backs can range from a sandy brown, gray-brown to a pale yellow, their bellies are white, and their sides range from yellow to yellow gray. They have "tufted" tails which are brown with white stripes on the sided and the tuft at the end of the tail being dark brown with scattered white hairs. They have large rounded bicolour ears. Their incisors are unique and are used to identify them, they are anteriorly flattened and broad, like chisels, which is where their name comes from.

It is endemic to the United... Wikipedia →