Desert kangaroo
| Desert kangaroo | ||||||||||||
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Desert kangaroo ( Dipodomys deserti ) |
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Dipodomys deserti | ||||||||||||
| Stephens , 1887 |
The desert kangaroo rat ( Dipodomys deserti ) is a common species from the genus of pocket mice , which occurs in desert areas in the USA such as the Valley of Death .
features
With a body length of 30 to 38 centimeters, of which the tail makes up two thirds, it is one of the largest species of its genus. Like all kangaroo rats, she excretes very highly concentrated urine, so she only needs to drink water once every 2–3 weeks. In her cheek pouches she transports her food into the den. Their large ears are primarily used to locate potential enemies such as rattlesnakes or the owl rabbit .
distribution and habitat
Their distribution area are the arid regions in the southwest of the United States (California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah) as well as the Baja California desert and the Sonoran desert in Mexico.
Way of life
She lives in groups of 6 to 12 members in self-dug, underground burrows, which she only leaves at night to look for food, especially seeds.
Reproduction
This species has a year-round reproduction period. The litter of the female includes up to 5 young, which are born after a gestation period of 30 days.
Existence and endangerment
The stocks of the desert kangaroo fluctuate very strongly depending on the food and water supply. The species is classified as Least Concern (LC) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN).
source
- David Burnie (Ed.), Mariele Radmacher-Martens: Animals: The large picture encyclopedia with over 2,000 species. Translated from the English by Gabriele Lehari. Dorling Kindersley, Munich 2012, ISBN 978-3-8310-2232-8 .
- Jiří Felix (ed.), Alena Čepická: America's fauna in color. Translated from the Czech by Jaroslav Konšal. Karl Müller Verlag, Erlangen 1989, pp. 242–243.
Web links
- Dipodomys deserti inthe IUCN 2012 Red List of Threatened Species . Posted by: AV Linzey, R. Timm, ST Álvarez-Castañeda, I. Castro-Arellano, T. Lacher, 2008. Accessed December 22, 2012.