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California kangaroo rat
Order : Rodentia
Suborder : Sciurognathi
Family : Heteromyidae
Subfamily : Dipodomyinae
Species : Dipodomys californicus
The California kangaroo rat is listed as Least Concern (LR/lc), lowest risk. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the California kangaroo rat
A young / baby of a California kangaroo rat is called a 'kitten, nestling, pinkie or pup'. The females are called 'doe' and males 'buck'. A California kangaroo rat group is called a 'colony, horde, pack, plague or swarm'.Countries
United States
Facts about the California kangaroo rat
In California, kangaroo rats are found in the Great Basin Desert east of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the hot dry valleys of central California and along the central coastline and in the southern deserts.
The California kangaroo rat (Dipodomys californicus) is usually found in annual grassland habitat, but also occurs in openings in mixed chaparral.
California kangaroo rats are often confused with Heermann's kangaroo rat. (Full text)
It has been suggested that in California, kangaroo rats are indicators of the health of the very ecosystem which they inhabit. (Full text)
The California kangaroo rat is the most widespread of the mammals in this group, but its range is limited to grassland in northern California. (Full text)