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Giant kangaroo rat Brought to you by Kaitie Christensen Taxonomic classification Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Rodentia Family: Heteromyidae Genus: Dipodomys Species: D. californicus Binomial name: Dipodomys californicus (“Dipodomys ingens (Merriam)”) Phylogeny The phylogeny of the giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys) includes its most closely related ancestor, the perognathus, or pocket mouse, found in the Great Plains region of North America. Microdipodops, or kangaroo mice, are the next closest relative. Heteromys and Liomys, more commonly known as pocket mice, are the farther relatives known to the giant kangaroo rat (“Phylogeny”). Geographic range and population Giant kangaroo rats are found in dry sandy areas, including San Joaquin Valley in California, United States. This species is only found in California, and only in regions that are currently fragmented from human interference. Historically, they have inhabited everywhere from San Joaquin Valley, Carrizo Plain, and Cuyama Valley (“Dipodomys Ingens”). They have been described in historic literature as a huge rat population, but today the population is estimated to be about 100,000 individuals in a year with Population Decline The giant kangaroo rat is very responsive to the climate of its habitat, and the population density ranges from one to 110 individuals per hectare of land depending on the seasonal differences (“Dipodomys Ingens”). The population of giant kangaroo rats live on 2% of the land they once had, and as a results the population is small and fractured (“Animal Guide”). The giant kangaroo rat is considered endangered because of a decrease in its range of population and habitat. In 2000, the giant kangaroo rat became critically Status and recovery In order to recover land for California’s giant kangaroo rat, healthy land that is not prone to floods or catastrophes in the area has been designated for the purpose of their rehabilitation, and measures have been takes to prevent “inappropriate land uses that would degrade or destroy habitat” (“Dipodomys Ingens”). In 2012 a five year review of 34 threatened species -including the giant kangaroo rat-- began in the states of California and Nevada (“Species Profile”). The populations in California are also protected by the “Carrizo Plan Natural Heritage Reserve” (“Giant Kangaroo Rat”). Works Cited "Animal Guide: Giant Kangaroo Rat." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. "Dipodomys Ingens." (Giant Kangaroo Rat). Redlist.org, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. "Dipodomys Ingens (Merriam, 1904)." Dipodomys Ingens (Merriam, 1904). Global Biodiversity Information Facility, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. "Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens)." Giant Kangaroo Rat Video. ARKIVE, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. "Phylogeny of Kangaroo Rats." Phylogeny of Kangaroo Rats. Davidson.edu, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. "Species Profile for Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens)." Species Profile for Giant Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys Ingens). US Fish and Wildlife Service, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2013.