These kangaroo mice are found in the Great Basin region of western United States, including Oregon, Utah, California, and Nevada. Nowak (1991), O'Farrell and Blaustein (1974).
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )
These kangaroo mice are normally granivorous, although they feed on insects, particularly during summer when their activity reaches its maximum. The shift in diet may be caused by competition for food with pocket mice. Kangaroo mice store food in seed caches found in their burrows. O'Farrell and Blaustein (1974), Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990).
Used in laboratory researches for water conservation, renal physiology, and irradiation. http://netvet.wustl.edu/org/AWIC/misc/uncomsp.htm
Although not endangered, their number has decreased due to destruction of habitat by modern agriculture and land development. Predators include the kit fox and snakes; however, humans are the biggest threat.
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Perception Channels: tactile ; chemical
Their fossil records date back to the early Oligocene era in North America. There are currently two living species in the genus Microdipodops, M. megacephalus and M. pallidus. Kangaroo mice can survive for a long period of time without drinking water. They can obtain sufficient moisture from their food while it is metabolized, and from drops of dew. They have specially designed kidneys, which can efficiently concentrate urine and avoid loss of water. Some individuals have been reported to have survived without water for 7 months.
O'Farrell and Blaustein (1974), Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990).
Kangaroo mice are found among bushes growing in soils covered with gravel or on sand dunes. The altitude of the habitat is around 1,190-2,455 meters. Burrows are constructed in soft ground with the entrance near a shrub. Burrows have simple, unbranched tunnels, elaborate nests, and a food storage room. A small territory is maintained near the burrow, but an individual's home ranges may overlap with those of several other individuals. Average home range for males is 6,613 square meters and 3,932 for females. O'Farrell and Blaustein (1974), Nowak (1991)
Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune
Average lifespan
Status: captivity: 5.4 years.
Total length measures 140-177 mm, head and body length is 66-77 mm, tail length 68-103 mm, and the hind foot is 23-27 mm long. The head is large in proportion to their body size due to the inflation of the tympanic bullae that extends to the upper portion of the cranium. The neck is fairly short. Upper parts are brownish to grayish black. Compared to the similar looking species, M. pallidus, M. megacephalus have basally plumbeous and white-tipped underparts, and the end of the tail is blackish. The distal half of the tail is darker than the proximal. The tail is not crested nor does it end in a tassle; however, it is thick and stores fat. The fat in the tail is used as a source of energy during dormancy.
The pelage is relatively long, silky, and lax. The hind feet are covered with stiff hairs on the sides, which increases the surface of the fine and soft feet. The undersurface of the hind feet are also well furred. The feet functions similar to a sand shoe in a desert.
Kangaroo mice utilize their forelegs more than kangaroo rats when running.
Compared to those of kangaroo rats, the molars of kangaroo mice do not constantly regrow. The base of the zygomatic arch is not enlarged as it is in kangaroo rats.
Several features, including long hind legs, relatively small forelegs, long vibrissae, and enlarged auditory bullae are probably adaptations to the jumping mode of locomotion.
O'Farrell and Blaustein (1974), Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990).
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Average mass: 13.4 g.
Average basal metabolic rate: 0.168 W.
Females are polyestrous. Pregnant individuals have been found from March to September. The majority of the young are born in May and June. Litter size ranges from 2 to 7 with an average of 3.9. A study done in west-central Nevada showed that the population consisted of 2:1 sex ratio favoring males. A successful reproduction has yet to be recorded in captivity. Maximum longevity (of an individual trapped in the wild) is five years and five months. O'Farrell and Blaustein (1974), Nowak (1991), Grizmek (1990).
Key Reproductive Features: gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual
Average number of offspring: 4.
Microdipodops megacephalus ye una especie de royedor de la familia Heteromyidae.
Ye un Endemismu de California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon y Utah nos Estaos Xuníos.
Microdipodops megacephalus ye una especie de royedor de la familia Heteromyidae.
Microdipodops megacephalus és una espècie de rosegador de la família dels heteròmids. Viu a l'oest dels Estats Units.
Té l'esquena de color gris marronós i la panxa blanca. Té els ulls i les orelles grossos, el musell llarg, les potes posteriors fosques i peludes, la cua gruixuda i el bigoti espès. Mesura 6,5-7,5 cm, amb una cua de 6,5-10,5 cm i un pes de 10-17 grams.
M. megacephalus és un animal nocturn i solitari. Salta per les dunes de sorra en el seu hàbitat sec. A l'estiu menja insectes i a l'hivern llavors que transporta al seu cas amb les butxaques que té a les galtes. També acumula reserves de greix a la cua.
Els mascles tenen territoris de fins a 6.000 m² que es dediquen a protegir. Les femelles només tenen territoris de més o menys 400 m².
Les femelles donen a llum entre dues i set cries per ventrada.
Microdipodops megacephalus és una espècie de rosegador de la família dels heteròmids. Viu a l'oest dels Estats Units.
Die Dunkle Kängurumaus (Microdipodops megacephalus) ist eine von zwei Arten der Gattung der Kängurumäuse aus der Familie der Taschenmäuse (Heteromyidae). Sie ist im Südwesten der USA verbreitet.
Die Dunkle Kängurumaus erreicht eine Gesamtlänge von 14,0 bis 17,7 cm mit einem 6,8 bis 10,3 cm langen Schwanz. Sie wiegt dabei 10,0 bis 16,9 Gramm. Die Oberseite ist schwarzbraun, braun oder grau gefärbt, die Haare der Unterseite sind an der Basis dunkel und an ihrer Spitze weiß. Die Füße sind vergrößert und besitzen borstenartige Haare, die seitlich abstehen und so die Fläche vergrößern, die auf den Sand aufsetzt. Die Hinterbeine sind mit 23 bis 27 Millimeter Länge vergrößert und geben den Antrieb zum Springen, während die kurzen Vorderbeine den Boden selten berühren. Der Schwanz dient beim Springen mit den Hinterbeinen zum Halten des Gleichgewichts.[1]
Von der Blassen Kängurumaus (Microdipodops pallidus) unterscheidet sich diese Art durch die dunklere Rückenfarbe, das Bauchfell, welches bei M. pallidus vollständig weiß ist, sowie die etwas kürzeren Hinterbeine.[1]
Die Dunkle Kängurumaus kommt in den westlichen Bundesstaaten der USA vor. Das Verbreitungsgebiet reicht vom Südosten Oregons und Kaliforniens über Nevada bis in den Südwesten Idahos und das westliche Utah.
Sie lebt in trockenen Gegenden mit steinigem oder sandigem Grund und Strauchvegetation aus Atriplex confertifolia oder Artemisia tridentata.[2]
Kängurumäuse sind nachtaktive Einzelgänger und leben tagsüber in ihren unterirdischen Bauen. Die Hauptaktivitätszeit liegt im März bis Oktober. Sie ernähren sich hauptsächlich von Samen, fressen aber auch Insekten. Trinken müssen sie nicht, da sie ihren Flüssigkeitsbedarf allein aus der Nahrung decken. Wahrscheinlich lagern sie zudem Nahrung in ihre Baue ein.[1][2]
Die Jungtiere kommen zwischen Mai und Juni zur Welt, wobei die Würfe zwei bis neun Jungtiere umfassen. Als Fressfeinde kommen vor allem Eulen, Füchse und Dachse in Frage.[2]
Die Dunkle Kängurumaus (Microdipodops megacephalus) ist eine von zwei Arten der Gattung der Kängurumäuse aus der Familie der Taschenmäuse (Heteromyidae). Sie ist im Südwesten der USA verbreitet.
The dark kangaroo mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae.[2] It is found in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah in the United States.[1][3]
The dark kangaroo mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus), also known as Owyhee River kangaroo mouse, is named for its dark-furred back, long hind feet, and the way it moves around by hopping on its hind legs like Australian kangaroos.[4][5][6][1] It belongs to the order Rodentia and Family Heteromyidae.[4][5][6][1][7][8][9] Its head is large in comparison to its body size due to enlarged auditory bullae.[7] It has a relatively short neck[7] large ears, prominent eyes, a long snout, long whiskers and a fat, haired tail.[4][5]
The coat of dark kangaroo mouse is long, silky, and soft with its back being brownish to greyish black while its belly having a greyish or whitish hue.[7] Its tail is swollen in the middle (fat deposits). The fat deposits vary in size as season changes because it is used as a source of energy during dormancy.[5][7][9] The tails are thickest before entering winter hibernation and thin in the spring, when they come out of hibernation and assume normal activity.[4][9] This is unique among North American small mammals.[5]
There is no sexual dimorphism shown in dark kangaroo mice except for zymomatic breadth. Length of hind foot, cranial measurement, and mandibular length vary little while weight is highly variable in the population.[8] The total length ranges from 138 to 177 millimetres (5.43 to 6.97 in) with an average of 160 millimetres (6.30 in), length of tail: 68 to 103 millimetres (2.68 to 4.06 in), hind foot length: 23 to 27 millimetres (0.91 to 1.06 in), weight of adults ranges from 10 to 16.9 grams (0.35 to 0.60 oz) with an average of 13.1 grams (0.46 oz).[4][6]
The dark kangaroo mouse species is native to the west of United States ( southeastern Oregon, northeastern and central-eastern California, Nevada, the tip of southwestern Idaho, and west-central Utah).[6][1] They prefer to live in loose sand and gravels (found in the Upper Sonoran life zone).[5][6]
This species is listed as "Least Concern" on the Red List because it is relatively widespread, although there has been a slight reduction in its population due to loss of habitats caused by modern agriculture.[1]
Their main predators are owls, foxes, badgers and snakes.[1][7]
Dark kangaroo mice mostly eat small seeds (granivores), which are carried back to their burrows in their cheek pouches.[4][5][6][1][7] They also feed on some insects (insectivore) in the summer. This change in diet is suggested to be caused by pocket mice ( longimembris) being at its peak activity and competing for food with the dark kangaroo mice.[6][7]
Kangaroo mice do not drink water actively, instead, utilize water from their food source. They also have adaptation mechanisms to further conserve water: being active at night (lower temperature so lose less water), concentrating their urine, and producing dry feces.[4]
Dark kangaroo mice are mostly bipedal which move around by hopping on their two hind legs.[4][6][7] Using bipedalism is suggested to be a result of foraging behaviors and using it as a locomotion mode only serves as a side function.[6] They also have been seen to be moving on all 4 limbs when moving in contained spaces such as a cage.[6]
These kangaroo mice are nocturnal animal with peak of activity in the first 2 hours after sunset.[6] Their activity is only observed from March through October while they go into hibernation during winter months.[6] These animals are also sensitive to moonlight and temperature. Their activities are decreased when the temperature is out of their optimal range and in presence of moonlight.[6]
The dark kangaroo mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is found in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Utah in the United States.
Microdipodops megacephalus es una especie de roedor de la familia Heteromyidae.
Es endémica de California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon y Utah en los Estados Unidos.
Microdipodops megacephalus es una especie de roedor de la familia Heteromyidae.
Microdipodops megacephalus Microdipodops generoko animalia da. Karraskarien barruko Dipodomyinae azpifamilia eta Heteromyidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Microdipodops megacephalus Microdipodops generoko animalia da. Karraskarien barruko Dipodomyinae azpifamilia eta Heteromyidae familian sailkatuta dago.
Microdipodops megacephalus est une espèce de rongeurs de la famille des Heteromyidae. Elle comprend plusieurs sous-espèces, et vit aux États-Unis, où elle est endémique.
Cette espèce a été décrite pour la première fois en 1891 par un zoologiste américain, Clinton Hart Merriam (1855-1942).
Selon Mammal Species of the World (version 3, 2005) (19 nov. 2012)[1] :
Microdipodops megacephalus est une espèce de rongeurs de la famille des Heteromyidae. Elle comprend plusieurs sous-espèces, et vit aux États-Unis, où elle est endémique.
Cette espèce a été décrite pour la première fois en 1891 par un zoologiste américain, Clinton Hart Merriam (1855-1942).
De donkere kangoeroemuisgoffer (Microdipodops megacephalus) is een zoogdier uit de familie van de wangzakmuizen (Heteromyidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd door Merriam in 1891.
De rugzijde is grijsbruin, de buik zuiver wit. Het dier heeft grote ogen en oren, een lange snuit, donkerbehaarde lange achterpoten, een dikke staart en een grote bos snorharen. De lichaamslengte bedraagt 6,5 tot 7,5 cm, de staartlengte 6,5 tot 10,5 cm en het gewicht 10 tot 17 gram.
Deze kleine solitair levende goffer heeft een nachtelijke levenswijze. Het dier huppelt en springt graag over de zandduinen in zijn droge habitat. Dit dier maakt opportunistisch gebruik van al wat de natuur en de seizoenen hem te bieden heeft. In de zomer bestaat zijn voedsel uit insecten, in de winter uit zaden, die in zijn uitwendige wangzakken worden overgebracht naar zijn burcht. Het dier maakt ook vetreserves aan in de dikke staart.
Mannetjes bezitten soms territoria van 6000 m², die moeten worden verdedigd tegen soortgenoten. Vrouwtjes moeten het met minder doen, zo’n 400 m².
Vrouwtjes krijgen meestal 2 tot 7 jongen per worp.
De soort komt plaatselijk algemeen voor in het zuidwesten van de Verenigde Staten.
Bronnen, noten en/of referentiesDe donkere kangoeroemuisgoffer (Microdipodops megacephalus) is een zoogdier uit de familie van de wangzakmuizen (Heteromyidae). De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort werd voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd door Merriam in 1891.
Mörk dvärgkänguruspringmus (Microdipodops megacephalus[2][3][4][5][6][7]) är en däggdjursart som beskrevs av Clinton Hart Merriam 1891. Microdipodops megacephalus ingår i släktet dvärgkänguruspringmöss, och familjen påsmöss.[8][9] IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som livskraftig.[1] Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.[8] Wilson & Reeder (2005) skiljer mellan 13 underarter.[4]
Som namnet antyder har arten mörkare brun päls på ovansidan än den andra arten i samma släkte. Undersidan är täckt av ljusgrå till vit päls och svansen har en svart spets. Den centrala delen av svansen kan lagra fett som förbrukas under vintern.[10]
Arten förekommer i Nevada (USA) samt i angränsande regioner av Kalifornien, Oregon och Utah. Habitatet utgörs av halvöknar och torra buskskogar med sandig mark.[1]
Individerna är främst aktiva på natten och de skapar underjordiska tunnelsystem. Denna gnagare äter frön samt några insekter och den behöver inget extra vatten. Mellan november och februari stannar individerna i boet. Honor har troligen flera kullar per säsong och de flesta ungar föds i maj och juni. Per kull föds två till sju ungar. Hanens revir är tydligt större än honans revir.[1]
Mörk dvärgkänguruspringmus (Microdipodops megacephalus) är en däggdjursart som beskrevs av Clinton Hart Merriam 1891. Microdipodops megacephalus ingår i släktet dvärgkänguruspringmöss, och familjen påsmöss. IUCN kategoriserar arten globalt som livskraftig. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life. Wilson & Reeder (2005) skiljer mellan 13 underarter.
Som namnet antyder har arten mörkare brun päls på ovansidan än den andra arten i samma släkte. Undersidan är täckt av ljusgrå till vit päls och svansen har en svart spets. Den centrala delen av svansen kan lagra fett som förbrukas under vintern.
Arten förekommer i Nevada (USA) samt i angränsande regioner av Kalifornien, Oregon och Utah. Habitatet utgörs av halvöknar och torra buskskogar med sandig mark.
Individerna är främst aktiva på natten och de skapar underjordiska tunnelsystem. Denna gnagare äter frön samt några insekter och den behöver inget extra vatten. Mellan november och februari stannar individerna i boet. Honor har troligen flera kullar per säsong och de flesta ungar föds i maj och juni. Per kull föds två till sju ungar. Hanens revir är tydligt större än honans revir.
Microdipodops megacephalus là một loài động vật có vú trong họ Chuột kangaroo, bộ Gặm nhấm. Loài này được Merriam mô tả năm 1891.[2]
Microdipodops megacephalus là một loài động vật có vú trong họ Chuột kangaroo, bộ Gặm nhấm. Loài này được Merriam mô tả năm 1891.
큰머리캥거루쥐 또는 오위히강캥거루쥐(Microdipodops megacephalus)는 주머니생쥐과에 속하는 설치류의 일종이다.[2] 미국 캘리포니아주, 아이다호주, 네바다주, 오리건주, 유타주에서 발견된다.[1][3]
큰머리캥거루쥐는 강한 뒷발을 가지고 있으며, 이동할 때 오스트레일리아의 캥거루처럼 뒷발로 깡충 뛰는 방법을 사용한다.[4][5][6][1] 쥐목 주머니생쥐과에 속한다.[4][5][6][1][7][8][9] 확대된 청각융기 때문에 몸 크기에 비해 머리가 크다.[7] 비교적 짧은 목과[7] 큰 귀, 눈에 띄는 눈, 긴 주둥이, 긴 콧수염 그리고 통통하고 털이 덮힌 꼬리를 갖고 있다.[4][5] 큰머리캥거루쥐의 털은 길고 부드러우며, 등 쪽은 갈색과 회색빛 검은색을 띠는 반면에 배 쪽은 회색 또는 희끄무레한 색조를 띤다.[7]
꼬리는 중간 부분이 부풀어있다(지방 저장소). 지방 저장소는 동면을 위한 에너지로 사용하기 때문에 계절 변화에 따라 다양하다.[5][7][9] 꼬리는 동면에 들어가지 전에 가장 두껍고, 동면에서 나와 정상적인 활동을 하는 봄에 가장 가늘다.[4][9] 북아메리카의 소형 포유류 중에서 독특한 종이다.[5] 광대뼈 폭을 제외하고는 암수의 차이가 크지 않다. 뒷다리 길이와 두개골 측정값, 하악 길이는 거의 차이가 없지만, 몸무게는 개체군 안에서 아주 다양하다.[8] 전체 길이 범위는 138~177mm, 평균 길이는 160mm이고, 꼬리 길이는 68~103mm이다. 뒷발 길이는 23~27mm, 성체의 몸무게 범위는 10~16.9g이고 평균 몸무게는 13.1g이다.[4][6]
큰머리캥거루쥐는 미국 서부(오리건주 남동부, 캘리포니아주 북동부와 중부 및 동부, 네바다주, 아이다호주의 남서부 극단, 유타주 서부-중부)의 토착종이다.[6][1] 서식지는 단단하지 않은 모래와 자갈(소노라 생물 분포대 상부에서 발견되는) 지대이다.[5][6] 비교적 널리 분포하기 때문에 국제 자연 보전 연맹(IUCN) 적색 목록에서 "관심대상종"으로 분류하고 있지만, 근대 농업의 발달로 인한 서식지 감소 때문에 개체수가 약간 감소하고 있다.[1] 주요 포식자는 올빼미와 여우, 오소리, 뱀 등이다.[1][7]