Texas Kangaroo Rat

Dipodomys elator Texas Kangaroo Rat
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Subclass:	Eutheria
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Heteromyidae
Genus:	Dipodomys
Species:	D. elator
Binomial name
Dipodomys elator Merriam, 1894

The Texas Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys elator, is native-endemic to Texas where it lives in association with mesquite brush and in areas with firm clay-loam soils. It is a relatively large kangaroo rat that ranges in size from approximately 60 grams to 95 or more. Males and females of this species are sexually dimorphic, males being larger than females. Its distribution is within North-central Texas and it is only found within 13 counties. It used to be found in Oklahoma, but has since been thought to be eradicated. The species is listed as threatened by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the IUCN lists the species as vulnerable.

Little is known about the species ecology and there are many differing ideas when it comes to this. One of the main arguments is concerning mesquite. Although it does occur in conjunction with mesquite, some studies indicate that their burrows are found only under mesquite bushes while others indicate that there is not this tight-knit association. As the more recent studies have concluded the latter, this is probably more realistic.

The rat has been shown in a study that analyzed cheek pouch contents of several individuals to eat leaves of grasses and some perennials, stems, and seeds. Seeds of Johnson Grass and Cultivated Oats make up the largest part of their diet. Breeding has not been studied extensively but generally they have a promiscuous mating system, mature early, mate all year with peaks in spring and summer, and have about 3 young per brood.

One of the largest threats that this organism faces is habitat loss and degradation due to grazing and agriculture within Texas. Grazing is a large issue because the cattle eat the grasses that they feed on and cattle ranchers will clear the mesquite they are associated with. They clear the Mesquite Bosques and individual trees because it can stunt grass growth. This is an area that should be researched more in order to better understand their habitat selection and the effect that these land-use practices have on organism.

References

1. ^ Linzey, A. V. & NatureServe (Wahl, R., Roth, E., Hammerson, G. & Horner, P. (2008). Dipodomys elator. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 27 March 2009.

• Mammals of Texas. Texas Kangaroo Rat

Carter, D.C., W.D. Webster, J.K. Jones, Jr., C. Jones, and R.D. Suttkus.1985. Dipodomys elator.Mammalian Species 232:1-3.

Chapman, B.R. 1972. Food Habits of Loring's Kangaroo Rat, Dipodomys elator. Journal of Mammalogy 53:877-880.

Dalquest, W.W. and G. Collier. 1964. Notes on Dipodomys elator, a rare kangaroo rat. The Southwestern Naturalist 9:146-150.

Goetze, J. R., W.C. Stasey, A.D. Nelson, and P.D. Sudman. 2007. Habitat attributes and population size of Texas kangaroo rats on an intensely grazed pasture in Wichita County, Texas. Texas Journal of Science 59:11-22.

Martin, R.E. and K.G. Matocha.1991. The Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator, from Motley Co., Texas, with notes on habitat attributes. The Southwestern Naturalist 36:354-356.

Martin, R.E. and K.G. Matocha. 1972. Distributional status of the kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator. Journal of Mammalogy 53:873-877.

Moss, S.P. and P. Mehlhop-Cifelli. 1990. Status of the Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator (Heteromyidae), in Oklahoma. The Southwestern Naturalist 35:356-358.

Roberts, J.D. and R.L. Packard. 1973. Comments on movements, home range and ecology of the Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator Merriam. Journal of Mammalogy 54:957-962.

Stangl, F.B., T.S. Schafer, J.R. Goetze, and W. Pinchak. 1992. Opportunistic use of modified and disturbed habitat by the Texas kangaroo rat (Dipodomys elator). The Texas Journal of Science 44:25-25.

Webster, D. and K. Jones. 1985. Nongeographic variation, reproduction, and demography in the Texas kangaroo rat, Dipodomys elator (Rodentia: Heteromyidae). The Texas Journal of Science 37:51-56.