dcsimg

Lifespan, longevity, and ageing

provided by AnAge articles
Maximum longevity: 9.9 years (captivity)
license
cc-by-3.0
copyright
Joao Pedro de Magalhaes
editor
de Magalhaes, J. P.
partner site
AnAge articles

Life Expectancy

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Average lifespan
Status: captivity:
9.8 years.

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Habitat

provided by Animal Diversity Web

D. ordii can be found on the riverbanks and the Great Sand Hills of Saskatchewan, throughout the Kansas plains, and the deserts of the southwestern United States (Banfield 1974; La Flamme 2000; Walker 1975).

In general, D. ordii prefers arid climates with sparse vegetation covering the sandy ground. Open ground is better for this animal, as it has been observed that an increase in grass cover leads to a decrease in population. Their burrows are rarely located in hard and gravelly soils and they are one of the few animals that are able to establish in shifting dunes (Banfield 1974; Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: desert or dune ; savanna or grassland

Other Habitat Features: agricultural

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Distribution

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Dipodomys ordii are the most widespread of all Kangaroo rats. They are found through much of western North America from Saskatchewan to Mexico. The Kansas plains, Great Sandhills of Sakatchewan and the California sagebrush are all common habitats. (Banfield 1974; La Flamme 2000)

Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native )

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Trophic Strategy

provided by Animal Diversity Web

The diet of Ord's kangaroo rats is primarily composed of seeds. These seeds are gathered in fur lined cheek pouches for transport back to their burrows for storage. D. ordii forage for up to 25 yards from their burrow entrance. In the summer, D. ordii also feed on grasshoppers and moths. Water retention is very efficient in Ord's kangaroo rats and they use the water produced from metabolism for their bodily requirements. As a result, they have very little need for water consumption and will only drink water when absolutely necessary.

(Feldner 1996; Walker 1975)

Animal Foods: insects

Plant Foods: seeds, grains, and nuts

Foraging Behavior: stores or caches food

Primary Diet: herbivore (Granivore )

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Benefits

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Unknown

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Benefits

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Ord's kangaroo rats do not adversely affect humans over most of their range. However in areas of Texas, D. ordii are reputed to do damage by gathering the seeds of newly planted crops (Davis and Schmidly 1994).

Negative Impacts: crop pest

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Conservation Status

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Ord's kangaroo rats are one of the most common kangaroo rats. In western Canada, however, D. ordii is considered vulnerable.

US Federal List: no special status

CITES: no special status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Behavior

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Kangaroo rats have a keen sense of smell, extraordinary hearing, and good night vision.

D. ordii individuals have an oil secreting gland located between the shoulders. They bathe regularily in sand to prevent the fur from becoming oily and matted. Secretions from the gland also allow D. ordii to distinguish individuals and sexes (Walker 1975).

Ord's kangaroo rats rarely make any vocal calls, the sounds that are made are usually soft squeaks. Instead they use their hind legs to make loud thumping noises in their burrow when the entrance is disturbed (Feldner 1996; Walker 1975).

Communication Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical

Other Communication Modes: pheromones ; vibrations

Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; vibrations ; chemical

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Morphology

provided by Animal Diversity Web

Total length ranges from 210-365 mm in males, and 208-360 mm in females. Tail length is, on average, 129 mm in males and 127 mm in females. The long tail is dark on top with two white bands on each side tapering to a grey tuft of longer hairs at the end. Ord's kangaroo rats have small forelimbs and long, strong hindlegs which are modified for jumping (Feldner 1996; Walker 1975).

Coloration of the long silky fur is rich and tawny on top with a scattering of black hairs along the middorsal line. D. ordii have distict white markings which include underparts of the feet, upper lip, spots above the eyes and across the hips.

There are no pelage differences between males and females but there are seasonal variations in weight for all D. ordii. Their weight peaks around mating season (Banfield 1974).

Range mass: 55 to 96 g.

Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry

Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike

Average basal metabolic rate: 0.339 W.

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Associations

provided by Animal Diversity Web

In encounters with particularily threating predators, D. ordii will turn around and face away from the enemy and use their hind legs to spray sand into the enemy's eyes. D. ordii can evade predators with long jumps measuring up to 2 meters long.

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Reproduction

provided by Animal Diversity Web

D. ordii are solitary animals that will only let potential mates approach during the mating seasons in spring and fall. Exact timing of mating seasons varies geographically. Females breed only when there is a favorable moist season, few breed during drought.

During estrus, which lasts for a few days, this species will pursue each other playfully. With an approximate gestation period of a month and sexual maturity at 2 months, the population can expand rapidly after a favorable season. (Banfield 1974)

Breeding interval: Ord's kangaroo rats breed when conditions are appropriate, with abundant food sources for both mother and young.

Breeding season: Breeding seasons are typically in the spring and fall, but vary throughout the range of Ord's kangaroo rats.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 2 months.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 2 months.

Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; viviparous

Average birth mass: 5 g.

Average gestation period: 29 days.

Average number of offspring: 3.

Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female)
Sex: female:
61 days.

license
cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors
bibliographic citation
Teh, P. 2001. "Dipodomys ordii" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed April 27, 2013 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Dipodomys_ordii.html
author
Poh-lin Teh, University of Toronto
original
visit source
partner site
Animal Diversity Web

Associated Plant Communities

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, forest

Ord's kangaroo rats occur in communities on sandy soils including
semiarid grasslands, mixed-grass prairie, shrub- and scrublands, and
pinyon (Pinus spp.)-juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands [11]. In Canada
Ord's kangaroo rats are confined to open, sandy areas with a sparse
cover of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.),
rose (Rosa spp.), creeping juniper (J. horizontalis), and buffaloberry
(Shepherdia spp.); the distribution of Ord's kangaroo rats appears to be
closely associated with that of lanceleaved breadroot (Psoralea
lanceolata) [2]. In Oregon Ord's kangaroo rats occur in big sagebrush
(A. tridentata), western juniper (J. occidentalis), and greasewood
(Sarcobatus spp.) communities. In Idaho they are most abundant in
juniper woodlands with rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.) and winterfat
(Krascheninnikovia lanata) in the understory [11], but also occur on
shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) range [12]. In Utah Ord's kangaroo
rats have an affinity for sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and saltbush
(Atriplex spp.) communities [11]. In Nevada Ord's kangaroo rats are
associated with big sagebrush communities [37]. In Colorado Ord's
kangaroo rats comprised 19 percent of small mammal captures in
pinyon-juniper forest, scattered pinyon-juniper, and pinyon-juniper in
canyon habitats [30]. In New Mexico Ord's kangaroo rats are found in
yucca (Yucca spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), mesquite (Prosopis spp.),
saltbush, and creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) communities [11,23].
They are particularly abundant in mesquite sand dunes [7]. In Texas
Ord's kangaroo rats occur in honey mesquite (P. glandulosa), sand
sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), yucca, sand shinnery oak (Q. havardii),
and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) communities [11]. In
southwestern Kansas Ord's kangaroo rats are characteristic residents of
sand sagebrush prairie [33].


REFERENCES :
NO-ENTRY
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Common Names

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Ord's kangaroo rat
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Cover Requirements

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: natural, shrubs

Even in shrub-dominated communities, heteromyids including Ord's
kangaroo rat tend to concentrate their activity in open areas between
shrubs [44].

Ord's kangaroo rats are poor diggers because of their weak forelegs and
slender claws. They dig shallow burrows in loose sand in the sides of
natural sand dunes, riverbanks, or road cuts. There is one central
burrow surrounded by trails to feeding areas [2]. Ord's kangaroo rat
burrows have 3-inch (7.6 cm) diameter openings. Small mounds are
usually formed outside the entrance to the burrow [41]. The burrow
opening is usually plugged with soil during the day to maintain
temperature and humidity within tolerable levels [11,19]. They scoop
out small, shallow depressions to be used as dusting spots [41].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Distribution

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
Ord's kangaroo rat ranges from southern Alberta and southern
Saskatchewan to southern Hidalgo, Mexico, and from central Oregon and
eastern California east to central Kansas and Oklahoma [11].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Food Habits

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: forbs, seed

Ord's kangaroo rats are primarily granivorous and herbivorous. They
consume a variety of foods but most commonly the seeds of grasses and
forbs, green vegetation, and dry vegetation. They occasionally consume
animal material, mostly arthropods. In Colorado seeds comprised 74
percent of Ord's kangaroo rat diets, forbs 13 percent, grasses and
sedges 5 percent, arthropods 4 percent, and fungi and mosses 2 percent
[11].

In southeastern Idaho big sagebrush/crested wheatgrass range, Ord's
kangaroo rats consumed (in order of proportion) pollen, arthropods,
plant parts (Asteraceae) and crested wheatgrass seeds [17]. A study of
Ord's kangaroo rat foods in Texas found that the primary foods consumed
included seeds of sand paspalum (Paspalum stramineum), honey mesquite,
sand bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus), common ragweed
(Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and rose-ring gaillardia (Gaillardia
pulchella) [1]. In Texas seeds of creosotebush, gramas (Bouteloua spp.)
and dropseeds (Sporobolus spp.) form the major portion of Ord's
kangaroo rat diets [31]. Seeds of mesquite, Russian-thistle, sunflowers
(Helianthus spp.), and sandbur (Cenchrus spp.) are also major dietary
items [41].

Harvested seeds are transported in cheek pouches to burrows and consumed
or cached there. Ord's kangaroo rats also cache seed in scattered
shallow holes; this activity sometimes results in seedling emergence.
Ord's kangaroo rats are easily able to retrieve shallowly buried seeds.
A single Ord's kangaroo rat may make tens to hundreds of caches, each
with tens to hundreds of seeds [21].

Kangaroo rats are physiologically adapted to arid environments. Most
water is obtained from seeds and succulent plants. They drink water
when it is available but apparently do not require free water [2,22].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat-related Fire Effects

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, fire frequency, forbs, frequency, seed, shrub, shrubs, succession, wildfire

Fire in desert and semidesert communities reduces shrub cover and
creates more open areas that are favored by Ord's kangaroo rats. In
Nevada sagebrush-grassland, an area burned by wildfire was dominated by
Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides). Ord's kangaroo rats were more
abundant in the Indian ricegrass-dominated burned areas than in adjacent
unburned sagebrush. Kangaroo rats (mostly Merriam's and Ord's kangaroo
rats) apparently played a role in encouraging the postfire dominance of
Indian ricegrass through the caching and subsequent germination of
Indian ricegrass seed. They also consume large seeds such as those of
Artemisia species more often than small seeds such as those of annual
forbs, thus reducing shrub seed available for colonization of burned
areas [20,21].

In singleleaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla)-Utah juniper (Juniperus
osteosperma) with a sparse understory of big sagebrush and desert
bitterbrush (Purshia glandulosa), prescribed fires were conducted in the
winter and fall. Fire converted pinyon-juniper communities to
single-layered, forb-dominated communities. Ord's kangaroo rats were
caught on both burned an unburned areas, but were not common on either
treatment. The first season after the fire a few more Ord's kangaroo
rats were caught on the unburned areas than on the burned areas.
However, Ord's kangaroo rats were caught only on burned areas the second
postfire season. Ord's kangaroo rats appeared to be attracted by seeds
of annual forbs on burned areas; Ord's kangaroo rat numbers increased
with increased abundance of annual forbs [24].

In western Nevada cheatgrass invasion of sparse desert shrub communities
has increased the incidence of wildfire. Postfire succession is not
well known due to the recent change in fire frequency. An area burned
in 1985 supported four species of Dipodomys including Ord's kangaroo rat
through 1990. Since some desert species do not survive fire well,
seeding of native species in the immediate postfire period is
recommended to regenerate desert shrubs and prevent cheatgrass
dominance. Indian ricegrass is a good choice for seeding but it is
expensive [43].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Cover Types

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

68 Mesquite
220 Rocky Mountain juniper
238 Western juniper
242 Mesquite
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Ecosystem

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

More info for the term: shrub

FRES21 Ponderosa pine
FRES28 Western hardwoods
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES31 Shinnery
FRES32 Texas savanna
FRES33 Southwestern shrubsteppe
FRES34 Chaparral-mountain shrub
FRES35 Pinyon-juniper
FRES38 Plains grasslands
FRES39 Prairie
FRES40 Desert grasslands
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Plant Associations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the terms: forest, shrub, woodland

K022 Great Basin pine forest
K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland
K024 Juniper steppe woodland
K027 Mesquite bosque
K031 Oak-juniper woodlands
K032 Transition between K031 and K037
K033 Chaparral
K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K039 Blackbrush
K040 Saltbush-greasewood
K041 Creosotebush
K042 Creosotebush-bursage
K043 Paloverde-cactus shrub
K044 Creosotebush-tarbush
K047 Fescue-oatgrass
K050 Fescue-wheatgrass
K051 Wheatgrass-bluegrass
K055 Sagebrush steppe
K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass
K065 Grama-buffalograss
K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalograss
K069 Bluestem-grama prairie
K085 Mesquite-buffalograss
K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie
K088 Fayette prairie
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Habitat: Rangeland Cover Types

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

More info for the terms: association, forb, shrub, shrubland, vine, woodland

104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue
106 Bluegrass scabland
107 Western juniper/big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass
109 Ponderosa pine shrubland
110 Ponderosa pine-grassland
210 Bitterbrush
211 Creosotebush scrub
212 Blackbush
314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
315 Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue
316 Big sagebrush-rough fescue
317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
318 Bitterbrush-Idaho fescue
319 Bitterbrush-rough fescue
320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass
321 Black sagebrush-Idaho fescue
322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass
324 Threetip sagebrush-Idaho fescue
401 Basin big sagebrush
402 Mountain big sagebrush
403 Wyoming big sagebrush
404 Threetip sagebrush
405 Black sagebrush
406 Low sagebrush
407 Stiff sagebrush
408 Other sagebrush types
409 Tall forb
412 Juniper-pinyon woodland
414 Salt desert shrub
416 True mountain-mahogany
501 Saltbush-greasewood
503 Arizona chaparral
504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland
506 Creosotebush-bursage
507 Palo verde-cactus
508 Creosotebush-tarbush
509 Transition between oak-juniper woodland and mahogany-oak association
605 Sandsage prairie
606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass
607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass
608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass
612 Sagebrush-grass
614 Crested wheatgrass
615 Wheatgrass-saltgrass-grama
701 Alkali sacaton-tobosagrass
702 Black grama-alkali sacaton
703 Black grama-sideoats grama
704 Blue grama-western wheatgrass
705 Blue grama-galleta
706 Blue grama-sideoats grama
707 Blue grama-sideoats grama-black grama
709 Bluestem-grama
712 Galleta-alkali sacaton
713 Grama-muhly-threeawn
714 Grama-bluestem
715 Grama-buffalograss
716 Grama-feathergrass
718 Mesquite-grama
720 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (dunes)
721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)
722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie
725 Vine mesquite-alkali sacaton
727 Mesquite-buffalograss
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Management Considerations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, grassland, seed, shrubland

There is some evidence that Ord's kangaroo rats and other Dipodomys
species are a key component in maintaining the grass component of salt
desert plant assemblages in the Great Basin [21]. Seed predation and
soil disturbance are the major influences of Dipodomys species. They
exhibit a preference for large seeds and their soil disturbance promotes
annuals over perennials. In southeastern Arizona desert scrub, removal
of the three Dipodomys species including Ord's kangaroo rat resulted in
a shift from shrubland to grassland. There was an increase in cover of
Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana) and threeawn (Aristida
adscensions) and a decrease in cover of needle grama (Bouteloua
aristoides) and six-weeks grama (B. barbata) [5].


REFERENCES :
NO-ENTRY
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Occurrence in North America

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals

AZ
CA
CO
ID
KS
MT
NE
NV
NM
OK

OR
SD
TX
UT
WY





AB
SK





MEXICO


license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Predators

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the term: frequency

In the Great Basin sagebrush, intermountain sagebrush steppe, and
intermountain salt desert shrublands potential predators of Ord's
kangaroo rats include coyotes (Canis latrans), kit fox (Vulpes velox),
bobcats (Lynx rufus), badgers (Taxidea taxus), long-eared owls (Asio
otus), short-eared owls (Asio flammeus), great horned owls (Bubo
virginianus), burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), hawks (Buteonidae and
Falconidae spp.), rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.), and gopher snakes
(Pituophis melanoleucus) [38,39,40]. In Idaho the remains of Ord's
kangaroo rats were found in up to 25 percent of prairie falcon (Falco
mexicanus) nests. The 3-year average frequency of Ord's kangaroo rat
remains in prairie falcon nests was 4 percent [27].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Preferred Habitat

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: competition, cover, density, shrubs

Ord's kangaroo rats occur mainly in semiarid, open habitats. In Nevada
they were trapped in desert scrub and gravelly soil, flat pebble desert,
and washes [8]. In Utah Ord's kangaroo rats have an affinity for open
shrublands and grasslands on sandy soils [11]. In southeastern Idaho
big sagebrush/crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) range, most Ord's
kangaroo rat captures occurred on disturbed sites (areas of sparse
cover: Russian-thistle (Salsola kali), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum),
and green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), followed by
disturbed areas seeded to crested wheatgrass, then undisturbed big
sagebrush [17]. In western South Dakota Ord's kangaroo rats are
associated with black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns
[34]. In Wyoming Ord's kangaroo rats are abundant in sand dune
communities where vegetation is greater than 10 inches (25 cm) tall and
bare soil exceeds 40 percent [11]. In Colorado Ord's kangaroo rats were
primarily captured in open areas with firm soil. Firm or lightly
compacted soils are needed for burrow construction; highly compacted
soils are too hard to dig into [30]. In areas of desert pavement or
tough clay soils in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, Ord's kangaroo rats
are confined to pockets of windblown sand and alluvial soils along
arroyos [31].

There is strong intraspecific competition and little interspecific
competition among Dipodomys species [32]. In New Mexico, where Ord's
kangaroo rats are sympatric with Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys
merriamii), Ord's kangaroo rats were mostly captured in grassy
microhabitats, and Merriam's kangaroo rats were captured more often
around creosotebush [32]. Herbicide defoliation of shrubs (for
rangeland improvement) reduced live canopy cover of creosotebush and
resulted in an increase in bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri). After
treatment Ord's kangaroo rat replaced Merriam's kangaroo rat as the
dominant rodent. It was suggested that this was due to the change in
habitat structure to open grass [42].

Removal experiments to establish single species populations of kangaroo
rats were unsuccessful since many kangaroo rats are transient and
quickly occupy vacated habitats [32]. Only one adult occupies a given
burrow system, except for a brief period during breeding activity.
There is little territoriality above groud except near the burrow
entrance, which is defended [8].

Home Range: In New Mexico Ord's kangaroo rat annual home ranges in
mesquite averaged 3.35 acres (1.36 ha) [11]. In Nevada
sagebrush/grassland Ord's kangaroo rat home ranges were estimated to be
1.53 acres (0.62 ha) by the circular method and 1.06 acres (0.43 ha) by
the principal component method. Home range movements increased through
spring and again in late fall and early winter. There was no
significant difference between male and female Ord's kangaroo rat home
ranges; however, female home ranges decreased during reproductive
periods [26]. Recapture data for Ord's kangaroo rats in Arizona
indicate that they do not travel far from the home range; most Ord's
kangaroo rats were recaptured within 165 feet (50 m) of the original
capture site. Data on the lifetime movements of individuals indicated
that most were recaptured within 330 feet (100 m) of the original
capture site [6].

Population Density: In sagebrush in the Great Basin, Ord's kangaroo
rats reach an average density of 113 Ord's kangaroo rats per 10 hectares
[38]. In intermountain salt-desert shrublands Ord's kangaroo rat
population density average 28 individuals per 10 hectares in shadscale
communities and 135 individuals per 10 hectares in black greasewood
(Sarcobatus vermiculatus) communities [40].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info on this topic.

This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

5 Columbia Plateau
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
8 Northern Rocky Mountains
9 Middle Rocky Mountains
10 Wyoming Basin
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
14 Great Plains
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Taxonomy

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
The currently accepted scientific name for Ord's kangaroo rat is
Dipodomys ordii Woodhouse. It belongs to the family Heteromyidae,
kangaroo rats and mice. Hall [13] listed 35 subspecies; however,
Kennedy and Schnell [15] reported that many of these subspecies are
probably not legitimate since they were based on the assumption that
there is little sexual dimorphism in the species. It has now been
established that there is much sexual dimorphism within the taxon [15].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Timing of Major Life History Events

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the terms: cover, density, litter

Ord's kangaroo rats are nocturnal. They spend the day in deep burrows
[41]. Males are usually more abundant and active than females. Ord's
kangaroo rat activity increases under cloud cover, particularly in
winter [11]. Ord's kangaroo rats are active year-round in Texas, but
further north they are seldom seen aboveground in cold weather [41].

Breeding Seasons: Ord's kangaroo rat breeding season varies with
subspecies and area. There are usually one or two peak breeding seasons
per year, and in many areas some breeding activity occurs year-round
[11,36]. The size of ovaries is significantly positively correlated
with temperature [11]. The average length of the breeding period is 6.8
months. In Texas males are fertile all year, with peak reproductive
activity occurring between August and March. Higher reproductive rates
are associated with increased precipitation and food supply and
decreased population density. In a favorable growing season most
females bred at least twice a year; but when population density
increased females did not breed until November even though growing
conditions and food supplies were favorable [25]. In Arizona the lowest
proportion of males in breeding condition (about 60 percent of the male
population) occurred in January and September-October. The lowest
number of females in breeding condition occurred in November, but there
were at least a few females breeding at that time [5]. In Oklahoma
there are two peaks in breeding activity: August-September and December
through March [14]. In many areas the onset of breeding activity
follows a period of rainfall the previous month [11].

Gestation and Litter Size: Gestation lasts 28 to 32 days. There are
usually one to six embryos. In captivity the maximum litter size was
six young [11].

Productivity and Longevity: The maximum number of litters produced per
year by a captive female was five, the maximum number of litters per
lifetime was nine, and the maximum number of young per female's lifetime
was 38. The longest-lived Ord's kangaroo rat in captivity was 7 years 5
months [11]. Brown and Zeng [6] calculated an annual death rate of 0.35
for all age classes.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Use of Fire in Population Management

provided by Fire Effects Information System Animals
More info for the term: fire regime

NO-ENTRY

FIRE REGIMES :
Find fire regime information for the plant communities in which this
species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under
"Find FIRE REGIMES".
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Sullivan, Janet. 1995. Dipodomys ordii. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/

Ord's kangaroo rat

provided by wikipedia EN

Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) is a kangaroo rat native to western North America, specifically the Great Plains and the Great Basin, with its range extending from extreme southern Canada to central Mexico.[2][3]

Ord's kangaroo rat has a fifth toe on its hind feet, which distinguishes it from Dipodomys elator. It is bicolored with gold-brown dorsal hair and a white stomach. It has a long tail with a bushy tip, and is dark dorsally and ventrally with a white lateral stripe. Its hind feet are modified for jumping, and exceed 35 mm in length, and its total length exceeds 240 mm. Its tail is usually less than 160 mm, distinguishing it from D. elator (which exceeds 160 mm).

Though a common species in the United States, the population in Canada is considered endangered.[4]

Taxonomy

The currently accepted scientific name for Ord's kangaroo rat is Dipodomys ordii Woodhouse. It belongs to the family Heteromyidae, kangaroo rats and mice. Hall[5] listed 35 subspecies, but Kennedy and Schnell reported many of these subspecies are probably not legitimate since they were based on the assumption of little sexual dimorphism in the species. It has now been established that sexual dimorphism within the taxon is considerable.[6]

Distribution

Ord's kangaroo rat ranges from southern Alberta and southern Saskatchewan to southern Hidalgo, Mexico, and from central Oregon and eastern California east to central Kansas and Oklahoma.[7]

Ord's kangaroo rats occur mainly in semiarid, open habitats. In Nevada, they were trapped in desert scrub and gravelly soil, flat pebble desert, and washes.[8] In Utah, Ord's kangaroo rats have an affinity for open shrublands and grasslands on sandy soils.[7] In southeastern Idaho, big sagebrush/crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) range, most Ord's kangaroo rat captures occurred on disturbed sites or areas of sparse cover: Russian thistle (Salsola kali), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), and green rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus), followed by disturbed areas seeded to crested wheatgrass, then undisturbed big sagebrush.[9] In western South Dakota, Ord's kangaroo rats are associated with black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns.[10] In Wyoming, Ord's kangaroo rats are abundant in sand dune communities where vegetation is greater than 10 inches (25 cm) tall and bare soil exceeds 40%.[7] In Colorado, Ord's kangaroo rats were primarily captured in open areas with firm soil. Firm or lightly compacted soils are needed for burrow construction; highly compacted soils are too hard for them to dig.[11] In areas of desert pavement or tough clay soils in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas, Ord's kangaroo rats are confined to pockets of windblown sand and alluvial soils along arroyos.[12]

Strong intraspecific competition and little interspecific competition occurs among Dipodomys species.[13] In New Mexico, where Ord's kangaroo rats are sympatric with Merriam's kangaroo rats (D. merriamii), Ord's kangaroo rats were mostly captured in grassy microhabitats, and Merriam's kangaroo rats were captured more often around creosotebush.[13] Herbicide defoliation of shrubs (for rangeland improvement) reduced live canopy cover of creosotebush and resulted in an increase in bush muhly (Muhlenbergia porteri). After treatment, Ord's kangaroo rats replaced Merriam's kangaroo rats as the dominant rodent. This was suggested to be due to the change in habitat structure to open grass.[14]

Removal experiments to establish single species populations of kangaroo rats were unsuccessful, since many kangaroo rats are transient and quickly occupy vacated habitats.[13] Only one adult occupies a given burrow system, except for a brief period during breeding activity. Little territoriality occurs above ground except near burrow entrances, which are defended.[8]

In New Mexico, Ord's kangaroo rat annual home ranges in mesquite averaged 3.35 acres (1.36 hectares).[7] In Nevada sagebrush/grassland, Ord's kangaroo rat home ranges were estimated as 1.53 acres (0.62 hectares) by the circular method and 1.06 acres (0.43 hectares) by the principal component method. Home range movements increased through spring and again in late fall and early winter. No significant difference was found between male and female Ord's kangaroo rat home ranges; however, female home ranges decreased during reproductive periods.[15] Recapture data for Ord's kangaroo rats in Arizona indicated they do not travel far from the home range; most Ord's kangaroo rats were recaptured within 165 ft (50 m) of the original capture site. Data on the lifetime movements of individuals indicated most were recaptured within 330 feet (100 m) of the original capture site.[16]

In sagebrush in the Great Basin, Ord's kangaroo rats reach an average density of 113 rats per 10 ha.[17] In intermountain salt-desert shrublands, the population density averaged 28 individuals per 10 ha in shadscale communities and 135 individuals per 10 ha in black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) communities.[18]

Plant communities

Ord's kangaroo rats occur in communities on sandy soils, including semiarid grasslands, mixed-grass prairie, shrub- and scrublands, and pinyon (Pinus spp.)-juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands.[7] In Canada, They are confined to open, sandy areas with sparse covers of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.), snowberry (Symphoricarpos spp.), rose (Rosa spp.), creeping juniper (J. horizontalis) and buffaloberry (Shepherdia spp.); the distribution of Ord's kangaroo rats appears to be closely associated with that of lanceleaved breadroot (Psoralea lanceolata).[19] In Oregon, Ord's kangaroo rats occur in big sagebrush (A. tridentata), western juniper (J. occidentalis), and greasewood (Sarcobatus spp.) communities. In Idaho, they are most abundant in juniper woodlands with rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus spp.) and winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) in the understory,[7] but also occur on shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) range.[20] In Utah, Ord's kangaroo rats have an affinity for sagebrush, pinyon-juniper, and saltbush (Atriplex spp.) communities.[7] In Nevada, Ord's kangaroo rats are associated with big sagebrush communities.[21] In Colorado, Ord's kangaroo rats comprised 19% of small mammal captures in pinyon-juniper forest, scattered pinyon-juniper, and pinyon-juniper in canyon habitats.[11] In New Mexico, Ord's kangaroo rats are found in yucca (Yucca spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), mesquite (Prosopis spp.), saltbush, and creosotebush (Larrea tridentata) communities.[7][22] They are particularly abundant in mesquite sand dunes.[23] In Texas, Ord's kangaroo rats occur in honey mesquite (P. glandulosa), sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), yucca, sand shinnery oak (Q. havardii), and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) communities.[7] In southwestern Kansas, Ord's kangaroo rats are characteristic residents of sand sagebrush prairie.[24]

Cover requirements

Even in shrub-dominated communities, heteromyids including Ord's kangaroo rat tend to concentrate their activity in open areas between shrubs.[25]

Ord's kangaroo rats dig shallow burrows in loose sand in the sides of natural sand dunes, riverbanks, or road cuts. The one central burrow is surrounded by trails to feeding areas.[19] The burrows have 3-in-diameter (7.6-cm-dia) openings. Small mounds are usually formed outside the entrance to the burrow.[26] The burrow opening is usually plugged with soil during the day to maintain temperature and humidity within tolerable levels.[7][27] They scoop out small, shallow depressions to be used as dusting spots.[26]

Lifecycle

Ord's kangaroo rat

Ord's kangaroo rats are nocturnal, and spend their days in deep burrows.[26] Males are usually more abundant and active than females. Activity increases under cloud cover, particularly in winter.[7] Ord's kangaroo rats are active year-round in Texas, but further north, they are seldom seen above ground in cold weather.[26]

Ord's kangaroo rat breeding season varies with subspecies and area. Usually, one or two peak breeding seasons occur per year, and in many areas, some breeding activity occurs year-round.[7][28] The size of ovaries is significantly positively correlated with temperature.[7] The average length of the breeding period is 6.8 months. In Texas, males are fertile all year, with peak reproductive activity occurring between August and March. Higher reproductive rates are associated with increased precipitation and food supply and decreased population density. In a favorable growing season, most females breed at least twice a year, but when population density increased, females did not breed until November though growing conditions and food supplies were favorable.[29] In Arizona, the lowest proportion of males in breeding condition (about 60% of the male population) occurred in January and September–October. The lowest number of females in breeding condition occurred in November, but at least a few females were breeding at that time.[30] In Oklahoma, the two peaks in breeding activity are August–September and December through March.[31] In many areas, the onset of breeding activity follows a period of rainfall the previous month.[7]

Gestation lasts 28 to 32 days; one to six embryos are usually found. In captivity, the maximum litter size was six young.[7] The maximum number of litters produced per year by a captive female was five, the maximum number of litters per lifetime was 9, and the maximum number of young per female's lifetime was 38. The longest-lived Ord's kangaroo rat in captivity is a wild caught female who lived until 9 yr 1 months. Brown and Zeng calculated an annual death rate of 0.35 for all age classes.[16]

Food habits

Ord's kangaroo rats are primarily granivorous and herbivorous. They consume a variety of foods, but most commonly eat the seeds of grasses and forbs, green vegetation, and dry vegetation. They occasionally consume animal material, mostly arthropods. In Colorado, seeds comprised 74% of their diets, forbs 13%, grasses and sedges 5%, arthropods 4%, and fungi and mosses 2%.[7]

In southeastern Idaho big sagebrush/crested wheatgrass range, Ord's kangaroo rats consumed (in order of proportion) pollen, arthropods, plant parts (Asteraceae) and crested wheatgrass seeds.[9] A study of Ord's kangaroo rat foods in Texas found the primary foods consumed included seeds of sand paspalum (Paspalum stramineum), honey mesquite, sand bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. paucipilus), common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and rose-ring gaillardia (Gaillardia pulchella).[32] In Texas, seeds of creosotebush, gramas (Bouteloua spp.) and dropseeds (Sporobolus spp.) formed the major portion of Ord's kangaroo rat diets.[12] Seeds of mesquite, Russian-thistle, sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), and sandbur (Cenchrus spp.) are also major dietary items.[26]

Harvested seeds are transported in cheek pouches to burrows and consumed or cached there. Ord's kangaroo rats also cache seed in scattered shallow holes; this activity sometimes results in seedling emergence. They are easily able to retrieve shallowly buried seeds. A single Ord's kangaroo rat may make tens to hundreds of caches, each with tens to hundreds of seeds.[33]

Kangaroo rats are physiologically adapted to arid environments. Most water is obtained from seeds and succulent plants. They drink water when it is available, but apparently do not require free water.[19][34]

Predators

In the Great Basin sagebrush, intermountain sagebrush steppe, and intermountain salt desert shrublands, potential predators of Ord's kangaroo rats include coyotes (Canis latrans), kit fox (Vulpes velox), bobcats (Lynx rufus), badgers (Taxidea taxus), long-eared owls (Asio otus), short-eared owls (Asio flammeus), great horned owls (Bubo virginianus), burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia), hawks (Buteonidae and Falconidae), rattlesnakes (Crotalus spp.), and gopher snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus).[17][18][35] In Idaho, the remains of Ord's kangaroo rats were found in up to 25% of prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) nests. The three-year average frequency of Ord's kangaroo rat remains in prairie falcon nests was 4%.[36]

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Dipodomys ordii. United States Department of Agriculture.

  1. ^ Cassola, F. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Dipodomys ordii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6691A115083268. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6691A22229045.en. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  2. ^ 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. 847. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
  3. ^ Teh, Poh-lin (2001). "ADW : Dipodomys ordii : Information". Animal Diversity Web (University of Michigan). Archived from the original on 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  4. ^ "Species at Risk - Ord's Kangaroo Rat". Environment Canada. 2006-05-08. Archived from the original on 2005-05-03. Retrieved 2007-08-15.
  5. ^ Hall, E. Raymond. 1981. The mammals of North America. 2nd ed. Vol. 2. New York: John Wiley and Sons
  6. ^ Kennedy, Michael L.; Schnell, Gary D. (1978). "Geographic variation and sexual dimorphism in Ord's kangaroo rat, Dipodomys ordii". Journal of Mammalogy. 59 (1): 45–59. doi:10.2307/1379874. JSTOR 1379874.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Garrison, Tom E.; Best, Troy L. (1990). "Dipodomys ordii" (PDF). Mammalian Species (353): 1–10. doi:10.2307/3504290. JSTOR 3504290.
  8. ^ a b Eisenberg, John Frederick. 1963. The behavior of heteromyid rodents. University of California Publ. in Zoology: Vol. 69. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press
  9. ^ a b Koehler, David K.; Anderson, Stanley H. (1991). "Habitat use & food selection of small mammals near a sagebrush/crested wheatgrass interface in southeastern Idaho". Great Basin Naturalist. 51 (3): 249–255.
  10. ^ Sharps, Jon C.; Uresk, Daniel W. (1990). "Ecological review of black-tailed prairie dogs and associated species in western South Dakota" (PDF). Great Basin Naturalist. 50 (4): 339–344.
  11. ^ a b Ribble, David O.; Samson, Fred B. (1987). "Microhabitat associations of small mammals in southeastern Colorado, with special emphasis on Peromyscus (Rodentia)". Southwestern Naturalist. 32 (3): 291–303. doi:10.2307/3671446. JSTOR 3671446.
  12. ^ a b Schmidly, David J. 1977. The mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas: including Big Bend National Park and Guadalupe Mountains National Park. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University
  13. ^ a b c Schroder, Gene D.; Rosenzweig, Michael L. (1975). "Perturbation analysis of competition and overlap in habitat utilization between Dipodomys ordii and Dipodomys merriami". Oecologia. 19 (1): 9–28. Bibcode:1975Oecol..19....9S. doi:10.1007/BF00377586. JSTOR 4215091. PMID 28308827. S2CID 6735185.
  14. ^ Whitford, Walter G.; Dick-Peddie, Scott; Walters, David; Ludwig, John A. (1978). "Effects of shrub defoliation on grass cover and rodent species in a Chihuahuan desert ecosystem". Journal of Arid Environments. 1 (3): 237–242. Bibcode:1978JArEn...1..237W. doi:10.1016/S0140-1963(18)31726-9.
  15. ^ O'Farrell, Michael J. (1978). "Home range dynamics of rodents in a sagebrush community". Journal of Mammalogy. 59 (4): 657–668. doi:10.2307/1380131. JSTOR 1380131.
  16. ^ a b Brown, James H.; Zeng, Zongyong (1989). "Comparative population ecology of eleven species of rodents in the Chihuahuan Desert". Ecology. 70 (5): 1507–1525. doi:10.2307/1938209. JSTOR 1938209.
  17. ^ a b West, N. E. 1983. Great Basin-Colorado plateau sagebrush semi-desert. In: Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Amsterdam; Oxford; New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company: 331–349. (Goodall, David W., ed. in chief; Ecosystems of the world; vol. 5)
  18. ^ a b West, Neil E. 1983. Intermountain salt-desert shrubland. In: West, Neil E., ed. Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Amsterdam; Oxford; New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company; 1983: 375–397. (Goodall, David W., ed. in chief.; Ecosystems of the world; vol. 5)
  19. ^ a b c Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press
  20. ^ Groves, Craig R.; Steenhof, Karen (1988). "Responses of small mammals and vegetation to wildfire in shadscale communities of southwestern Idaho". Northwest Science. 62 (5): 205–210.
  21. ^ Welch, Bruce L.; McArthur, E. Durant. 1985. Big sagebrush—its taxonomy, origin, distribution and utility. In: Fisser, Herbert G., ed. Wyoming shrublands: Proceedings, 14th Wyoming shrub ecology workshop; 1985 May 29–30; Rock Springs, WY. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming, Department of Range Management, Wyoming Shrub Ecology Workshop: 3–19
  22. ^ Mares, M. A.; Hulse, A. C. 1977. Patterns of some vertebrate communities in creosote bush deserts. In: Mabry, T. J.; Hunziker, J. H.; DiFeo, D. R., Jr., eds. Creosote bush: Biology and chemistry of Larrea in New World deserts. U.S./IBP Synthesis Series 6. Stroudsburg, PA: Dowden, Hutchinson & Ross, Inc.: 209–226
  23. ^ Campbell, R. S. (1929). "Vegetative succession in the Prosopis sand dunes of southern New Mexico". Ecology. 10 (4): 392–398. doi:10.2307/1931147. JSTOR 1931147.
  24. ^ Sexson, Mark L. 1983. Destruction of sandsage prairie in southwest Kansas. In: Proceedings, 7th North American prairie conference; 1980 August 4–6; Springfield, MO. Columbia, MO: University of Missouri: 113–115.
  25. ^ Price, M. V.; Brown, J. H. (1983). "Patterns of morphology and resource use in North American desert rodent communities". Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs. 7: 117–134.
  26. ^ a b c d e Whitaker, John O., Jr. 1980. National Audubon Society field guide to North American mammals. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.
  27. ^ Lechleitner, R. R. 1969. Wild mammals of Colorado. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company.
  28. ^ Smith, H. Duane; Jorgensen, Clive D. 1975. Reproductive biology of North American desert rodents. In: Prakash, I.; Ghosh, P. K., eds. Rodents in desert environments. Monographiae Biologicae Vol. 28. The Hague, Netherlands: Dr. W. Junk: 305-330
  29. ^ McCulloch, C. Y.; Inglis, J. M. (1961). "Breeding periods of the ord kangaroo rat". Journal of Mammalogy. 42 (3): 337–344. doi:10.2307/1377029. JSTOR 1377029.
  30. ^ Brown, J. H.; Heske, E. J. (1990). Translated by a Keystone Rodent Guild. "Control of a Desert-Grassland". Science. 250 (4988): 1705–7. doi:10.1126/science.250.4988.1705. PMID 17734708. S2CID 33357407.
  31. ^ Hoditschek, Barbara; Best, Troy L. (1983). "Reproductive biology of Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) in Oklahoma". Journal of Mammalogy. 64 (1): 121–127. doi:10.2307/1380757. JSTOR 1380757.
  32. ^ Alcoze, Thomas M.; Zimmerman, Earl G. (1973). "Food habits and dietary overlap of two heteromyid rodents from the mesquite plains of Texas". Journal of Mammalogy. 54 (4): 900–908. doi:10.2307/1379084. JSTOR 1379084.
  33. ^ Longland, William S. 1995. Desert rodents in disturbed shrub communities and their effects on plant recruitment. In: Roundy, Bruce A.; McArthur, E. Durant; Haley, Jennifer S.; Mann, David K., compilers. Proceedings: wildland shrub and arid land restoration symposium; 1993 October 19–21; Las Vegas, NV. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-315. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station: 209–215
  34. ^ Mares, Michael A. (1983). "Desert rodent adaptation and community structure. Great Basin Naturalist Memoirs". 7: 30–43. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  35. ^ West, N. E. 1983. Western Intermountain sagebrush steppe. In: Temperate deserts and semi-deserts. Amsterdam; Oxford; New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company. 352–374. (Goodall, David W., ed. in chief; Ecosystems of the world; vol. 5)
  36. ^ Ogden, Verland T.; Hornocker, Maurice G. (1977). "Nesting density and success of prairie falcons in southwestern Idaho". Journal of Wildlife Management. 41 (1): 1–11. doi:10.2307/3800084. JSTOR 3800084.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Ord's kangaroo rat: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Ord's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ordii) is a kangaroo rat native to western North America, specifically the Great Plains and the Great Basin, with its range extending from extreme southern Canada to central Mexico.

Ord's kangaroo rat has a fifth toe on its hind feet, which distinguishes it from Dipodomys elator. It is bicolored with gold-brown dorsal hair and a white stomach. It has a long tail with a bushy tip, and is dark dorsally and ventrally with a white lateral stripe. Its hind feet are modified for jumping, and exceed 35 mm in length, and its total length exceeds 240 mm. Its tail is usually less than 160 mm, distinguishing it from D. elator (which exceeds 160 mm).

Though a common species in the United States, the population in Canada is considered endangered.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN