Tipton kangaroo rat 8046-5 1991

Description:

Description: English: A Tipton kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides) at the California Living Museum in Bakersfield, Calif. This mammal is one of three subspecies of the San Joaquin kangaroo rat, morphologically distinguished by being larger than the Fresno kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides exilis) and smaller than the short-nosed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys nitratoides brevinasus), a species of concern. Tipton males average around 9 1/4 inches. San Joaquin kangaroo rats can be distinguished from other kangaroo rats within their range by the presence of four toes on the hind foot; other species have five toes. Kangaroo rats are adept at jumping, as they can often cover a distance of 6 feet in one leap. Tipton kangaroo rats eat mostly seeds but will also eat fresh green vegetation and various small insects. And they live in burrow systems approximately eight to ten inches below the ground. The burrows are usually found in slightly elevated mounds. Photo taken 1991. Date: 1991. Source: California Department of Water Resources. Author: California Department of Water Resources.