Dipodidae

family of mammals

The Dipodidae are a family of small to medium-sized rodents living in the northern hemisphere. The family has over 50 species in 16 genera.

Dipodidae
Temporal range: Late Eocene–Recent[1]
Jaculus orientalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Suborder: Myomorpha
Superfamily: Dipodoidea
Family: Dipodidae
Fischer de Waldheim, 1817
Subfamilies

Allactaginae
Cardiocraniinae
Dipodinae
Euchoreutinae
Sicistinae
Zapodinae

They include the jerboas, jumping mice, and birch mice. Different species are found in grassland, deserts, and forests. They are all capable of saltation, which is jumping from a bipedal stance. This feature is most highly evolved in the desert-dwelling jerboas. Their movement resembles that of kangaroos more than that of true mice.

Most species are nocturnal, and the eyes and ears are noticeably larger than usual in proportion to the body.

References change

  1. Qian Li; Yan-Xin Gong; Yuan-Qing Wang (2017). "New dipodid rodents from the Late Eocene of Erden Obo (Nei Mongol, China)". Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology. 29 (5): 692–703. doi:10.1080/08912963.2016.1232406. S2CID 132602246.