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Order Rodentia

@orodentia.bsky.social

#RodentOfTheDay Pale Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops pallidus)

"The large internal ear structures of this species suggest that it has very keen hearing, and uses this to detect predators."

Inf: animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mic...

Ph: www.mammalogy.org/image-librar...

The pale, whitish-cream dorsal pelage earns Microdipodops pallidus their name. The white coloration continues to the underside of the animal. This characteristic is used to differentiate between M. pallidus and their sister species, the darker Microdipodops megacephalus . The fur is silky and long, and the tail is neither crested nor penciled (Nowak, 1999). Much of the body is shaped to aid in its hopping locomotion; M. pallidus has long hind legs, shortened forelegs, and uses its tail for balance. The proportionately large hind feet of M. pallidus improve movement through sandy habitats by being fringed at the sides with stiff hairs. These hairs, also found on the undersurface of the hind feet, act to increase the surface area of the foot (Nowak, 1999). The kidneys of kangaroo mice are very efficient, and fat is stored in their tails (Woods, 1990).

Text: Rodentia - Heteromyidae Microdipodops pallidus Pale Kangaroo Mouse A Ambos ASM- MIL

June 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM

Jessica Light (she/her)

@jeclight.bsky.social

Finally published: #Cryptic species and taxonomic revision of kangaroo mice, the rodent genus #Microdipodops. 4 new species! Integrative taxonomy! Great co-authors! @n8upham.bsky.social @mammalogists.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/jmam...

Cryptic species and taxonomic revision of kangaroo mice, the rodent genus Microdipodops

Abstract. This study presents the first systematic revision of kangaroo mice, the heteromyid genus Microdipodops, in over 8 decades. The study relies on a

doi.org

December 19, 2025 at 7:50 PM

Order Rodentia

@orodentia.bsky.social

#RodentOfTheDay Dark Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus)

"-inhabit dry desert areas with lots of loose sand and gravel...They create underground systems throughout the sand dunes that protects them from extreme temperatures and predators."

#MouseMonday

Ph/In: www.ndow.org/species/dark...