Agile kangaroo rat explained

The agile kangaroo rat (Dipodomys agilis) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to southern California in the United States.

Relatively little information has been published on the natural history, life history, ecology, or behavior of the agile kangaroo rat. The species appears to be part of the Californian kangaroo rat radiation, which is derived from a common ancestor with Ord's kangaroo rat.[1] Best compared 19 morphological measurements from specimens from 34 populations across the species range, and concluded that the species is monotypic.[2] An observational study found distinct habitat differences between the agile and Stephens's kangaroo rats, with the agile preferring more shrubs and lighter soils.[3]

References

Notes and References

  1. Hafner, John C., Jessica E. Light, David J. Hafner, Mark S. Hafner, Emily Reddington, Duke S. Rogers, and Brett R. Riddle. 2007. "Basal Clades and Molecular Systematics of Heteromyid Rodents." Journal of Mammalogy 88 (5) (October 1): 1129-1145.https://www.jstor.org/stable/4498763
  2. Best, Troy L. 1983. "Intraspecific Variation in the Agile Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys agilis)." Journal of Mammalogy 64 (3): 426-436. .
  3. Price, Mary V., William S. Longland, and Ross L. Goldingay. 1991. "Niche Relationships of Dipodomys agilis and D. stephensi: Two Sympatric Kangaroo Rats of Similar Size." American Midland Naturalist 126 (1) (July 1): 172-186. .