Dipodidae
Encyclopedia
The Dipodidae, or dipodids, are a family
of rodent
s found across the northern hemisphere
. This family includes over 50 species among the 16 genera.
They include the jerboa
s, jumping mice, and birch mice
. Different species are found in grassland
, desert
s, and forest
s. They are all capable of saltation (jumping while in a bipedal stance), a feature that is most highly evolved in the desert-dwelling jerboas.
. They are all adapted for jumping, although to varying degrees. The jerboas have very long hind legs which, in most species, include cannon bones. They move either by jumping, or by walking on their hind legs. The jumping mice have long feet, but lack the extreme adaptations of the jerboas, so that they move by crawling or making short hops, rather than long leaps. Both jerboas and jumping mice have long tails to aid their balance. Birch mice have shorter tails and feet, but they, too, move by jumping.
Most dipodids are omnivorous
, with a diet consisting of seed
s and insect
s. Some species of jerboa, however, such as Allactaga sibirica, are almost entirely insectivorous
. Like other rodents, they have gnawing incisor
s separated from the grinding cheek teeth by a gap, or diastema
. The dental formula
for dipodids is:
Jerboas and birch mice make their nests in burrows, which, in the case of jerboas, may be complex, with side-chambers for storage of food. In contrast, while jumping mice sometimes co-opt the burrows of other species, they do not dig their own, and generally nest in thick vegetation. Most species hibernate
for at least half the year, surviving on fat that they build up in the weeks prior to going to sleep.
Dipodids give birth to litters of between two and seven young after a gestation
period of between 17 and 42 days. They breed once or twice a year, depending on the species.
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of rodent
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
s found across the northern hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
. This family includes over 50 species among the 16 genera.
They include the jerboa
Jerboa
The jerboa form the bulk of the membership of the family Dipodidae. Jerboas are hopping desert rodents found throughout Asia and Northern Africa. They tend to be found in hot deserts....
s, jumping mice, and birch mice
Birch mouse
Birch mice are small jumping desert rodents that resemble mice with a long tufted tail and very long hind legs, allowing for remarkable leaps. All variants possess a long tail of of length and weigh about . The head length lies between...
. Different species are found in grassland
Grassland
Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants . However, sedge and rush families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except Antarctica...
, desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
s, and forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s. They are all capable of saltation (jumping while in a bipedal stance), a feature that is most highly evolved in the desert-dwelling jerboas.
Characteristics
Dipodids are small to medium sized rodents, ranging from 4 centimetre in body length, excluding the tailTail
The tail is the section at the rear end of an animal's body; in general, the term refers to a distinct, flexible appendage to the torso. It is the part of the body that corresponds roughly to the sacrum and coccyx in mammals, reptiles, and birds...
. They are all adapted for jumping, although to varying degrees. The jerboas have very long hind legs which, in most species, include cannon bones. They move either by jumping, or by walking on their hind legs. The jumping mice have long feet, but lack the extreme adaptations of the jerboas, so that they move by crawling or making short hops, rather than long leaps. Both jerboas and jumping mice have long tails to aid their balance. Birch mice have shorter tails and feet, but they, too, move by jumping.
Most dipodids are omnivorous
Omnivore
Omnivores are species that eat both plants and animals as their primary food source...
, with a diet consisting of seed
Seed
A seed is a small embryonic plant enclosed in a covering called the seed coat, usually with some stored food. It is the product of the ripened ovule of gymnosperm and angiosperm plants which occurs after fertilization and some growth within the mother plant...
s and insect
Insect
Insects are a class of living creatures within the arthropods that have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body , three pairs of jointed legs, compound eyes, and two antennae...
s. Some species of jerboa, however, such as Allactaga sibirica, are almost entirely insectivorous
Insectivore
An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....
. Like other rodents, they have gnawing incisor
Incisor
Incisors are the first kind of tooth in heterodont mammals. They are located in the premaxilla above and mandible below.-Function:...
s separated from the grinding cheek teeth by a gap, or diastema
Diastema (dentistry)
Diastema is a space or gap between two teeth. Many species of mammals have diastemata as a normal feature, most commonly between the incisors and molars.-In humans:...
. The dental formula
Dentition
Dentition pertains to the development of teeth and their arrangement in the mouth. In particular, the characteristic arrangement, kind, and number of teeth in a given species at a given age...
for dipodids is:
Jerboas and birch mice make their nests in burrows, which, in the case of jerboas, may be complex, with side-chambers for storage of food. In contrast, while jumping mice sometimes co-opt the burrows of other species, they do not dig their own, and generally nest in thick vegetation. Most species hibernate
Hibernation
Hibernation is a state of inactivity and metabolic depression in animals, characterized by lower body temperature, slower breathing, and lower metabolic rate. Hibernating animals conserve food, especially during winter when food supplies are limited, tapping energy reserves, body fat, at a slow rate...
for at least half the year, surviving on fat that they build up in the weeks prior to going to sleep.
Dipodids give birth to litters of between two and seven young after a gestation
Gestation
Gestation is the carrying of an embryo or fetus inside a female viviparous animal. Mammals during pregnancy can have one or more gestations at the same time ....
period of between 17 and 42 days. They breed once or twice a year, depending on the species.
Classification
FAMILY DIPODIDAE- Subfamily Sicistinae, Birch mice
- Genus Sicista
- Armenian Birch MouseArmenian Birch MouseThe Armenian Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.-Description:It is a small rodent, like the mouse, the average weight of 10 g and up to 9 cm long, excluding the semi-prehensile tail, which slightly exceeds the length of the body...
, Sicista armenica - Northern Birch MouseNorthern Birch MouseThe Northern Birch Mouse is a small rodent about 5 to 8 cm long , weighing 4.5 to 13 g. It lives in Siberia in forest and marsh zones....
, Sicista betulina - Caucasian Birch MouseCaucasian Birch MouseThe Caucasian Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Russia.-References:...
, Sicista caucasica - Long-tailed Birch Mouse, Sicista caudata
- Chinese Birch MouseChinese Birch MouseThe Chinese Birch Mouse , also known as the Long-tailed Birch Mouse, is a species of jumping mouse found in Northeast Asia. It has been reported from the Ussuri region of Manchuria, Sakhalin Island and Primorsky Krai in Russia, and northern North Korea...
, Sicista concolor - Kazbeg Birch MouseKazbeg Birch MouseThe Kazbeg Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Georgia and Russia. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:...
, Sicista kazbegica - Kluchor Birch MouseKluchor Birch MouseThe Kluchor Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Russia. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:...
, Sicista kluchorica - Altai Birch MouseAltai Birch MouseThe Altai Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Kazakhstan and Russia.- References :...
, Sicista napaea - Gray Birch MouseGray Birch MouseThe Gray Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Kazakhstan. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.-References:...
, Sicista pseudonapaea - Severtzov's Birch MouseSevertzov's Birch MouseThe Severtzov's Birch Mouse, or Dark Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to East-European Steppes .-References:...
, Sicista severtzovi - Strand's Birch MouseStrand's Birch MouseStrand's Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Russia.-References:*Holden, M. E. and G. G. Musser. 2005. Family Dipodidae. Pp. 871-893 in Mammal Species of the World a Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. D. E. Wilson and D. M. Reeder eds. Johns Hopkins...
, Sicista strandi - Southern Birch MouseSouthern Birch MouseThe Southern Birch Mouse is a species of birch mouse in the family Dipodidae.The most prominent characteristic of the Southern Birch Mouse is the dark stripe down the center of the back, which is bordered by two narrow bright stripes on both sides. From head to rump it measures from 56 to 72 mm,...
, Sicista subtilis - Tien Shan Birch MouseTien Shan Birch MouseThe Tien Shan Birch Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in China and Kazakhstan.-References:...
, Sicista tianshanica
- Armenian Birch Mouse
- Genus Sicista
- Subfamily Zapodinae, Jumping mice
- Genus Eozapus
- Chinese Jumping MouseChinese Jumping MouseThe Chinese Jumping Mouse is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Eozapus.It is endemic to China. Its natural habitat is temperate forests.It is threatened by habitat loss....
, Eozapus setchuanus
- Chinese Jumping Mouse
- Genus Napaeozapus
- Woodland Jumping MouseWoodland jumping mouseThe Woodland jumping mouse is a species of jumping mouse found in North America. It can hop surprisingly long distances given its small size. The mouse is an extraordinary part of the rodent family. Its scientific name in Latin is Napaeozapus insignis, meaning glen or wooded dell + big or strong...
, Napaeozapus insignis
- Woodland Jumping Mouse
- Genus ZapusZapusZapus is a genus of North American jumping mice. It is the only genus whose members have the dental formula: Zapus are the only extant mammals with a total of 18 teeth ....
- Meadow Jumping MouseMeadow jumping mouseThe meadow jumping mouse is the most widely distributed mouse in the subfamily Zapodinae. It may be found from the Atlantic coast, to the Great Plains, as far north as the arctic tree lines in Canada and Alaska, and as far south as Georgia, Alabama, Arizona, and New Mexico.- Description :The...
, Zapus hudsonius - Western Jumping MouseWestern Jumping MouseThe Western Jumping Mouse , is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Canada and the United States....
, Zapus princeps - Pacific Jumping MousePacific Jumping MouseThe Pacific Jumping Mouse is a species of rodent in the family Dipodidae. It is found in Canada and the United States. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and swamps....
, Zapus trinotatus
- Meadow Jumping Mouse
- Genus Eozapus
- Subfamily AllactaginaeAllactaginaeAllactaginae is a subfamily of rodents.- Classification :Subfamily Allactaginae*Genus Allactaga**incertae sedis***Allactaga toussi**Subgenus Allactaga***Small Five-toed Jerboa, Allactaga elater...
- Genus AllactagaAllactagaThe genus Allactaga contains the four and five-toed jerboas of Asia.-Characteristics:These are hopping rodents of desert and semi-arid regions with long ears, tails and feet. All members of the genus have five toes except for a single species, the Four-toed Jerboa, Allactaga tetradactyla of...
- Subgenus Allactaga
- Small Five-toed JerboaSmall Five-toed JerboaThe Small Five-toed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.-References:...
, Allactaga elater - Iranian JerboaIranian JerboaThe Iranian Jerboa is a jerboa in the subfamily Allactaginae. The species was listed as critically endangered by the IUCN red list. It is only found one small population in Iran. They were found on a flat plain with a gravel substrate and sparse, mountain steppe vegetation. It is a nocturnal...
, Allactaga firouzi - Hotson's JerboaHotson's JerboaHotson's Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. Named by Oldfield Thomas after John Ernest Buttery Hotson who collected specimens in Baluchistan during 1918-1920....
, Allactaga hotsoni - Great JerboaGreat JerboaFileThe Great Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. It mainly lives in deserts.The Great Jerboa lives in many desert biomes around the world....
, Allactaga major - Severtzov's Jerboa, Allactaga severtzovi
- Vinogradov's JerboaVinogradov's JerboaVinogradov's Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.-References:...
, Allactaga vinogradovi
- Small Five-toed Jerboa
- Subgenus Orientallactaga
- Balikun JerboaBalikun JerboaThe Balikun Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in China and Mongolia.-References:...
, Allactaga balikunica - Gobi JerboaGobi JerboaThe Gobi Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in China and Mongolia.Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and temperate desert.-References:...
, Allactaga bullata - Mongolian Five-toed JerboaMongolian Five-toed JerboaThe Mongolian Five-toed Jerboa or Siberian Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Turkmenistan.-References:...
, Allactaga sibirica
- Balikun Jerboa
- Subgenus Paralactaga
- Euphrates JerboaEuphrates JerboaThe Euphrates Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It is found in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey....
, Allactaga euphratica - Williams's Jerboa, Allactaga williamsi
- Euphrates Jerboa
- Subgenus Scarturus
- Four-toed JerboaFour-toed jerboaThe Four-toed Jerboa is a small jumping desert rodent. This species of jerboa is endangered and lives in coastal salt marshes, and dry and clay deserts. It has long hind legs, short front legs, and long ears about the length of its head. Its fur is the color of the sand it burrows in, with a...
, Allactaga tetradactyla
- Four-toed Jerboa
- incertae sedisIncertae sedis, is a term used to define a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Uncertainty at specific taxonomic levels is attributed by , , and similar terms.-Examples:*The fossil plant Paradinandra suecica could not be assigned to any...
- Allactaga toussi
- Subgenus Allactaga
- Genus Allactodipus
- Bobrinski's JerboaBobrinski's JerboaBobrinski's Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Allactodipus.It is found in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.-References:...
, Allactodipus bobrinskii
- Bobrinski's Jerboa
- Genus PygeretmusPygeretmusPygeretmus is a genus of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It contains the following species:* Lesser Fat-tailed Jerboa * Dwarf Fat-tailed Jerboa * Greater Fat-tailed Jerboa...
, Fat-tailed Jerboas- Lesser Fat-tailed JerboaLesser Fat-tailed JerboaThe Lesser Fat-tailed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to West, Central, and Eastern Kazakhstan, as well as Northwestern Turkmenistan.-Sources:...
, Pygeretmus platyurus - Dwarf Fat-tailed JerboaDwarf Fat-tailed JerboaThe Dwarf Fat-tailed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Russia.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Pygeretmus pumilio - Greater Fat-tailed JerboaGreater Fat-tailed JerboaThe Greater Fat-tailed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Kazakhstan. Its natural habitat is temperate desert.-References:...
, Pygeretmus shitkovi
- Lesser Fat-tailed Jerboa
- Genus Allactaga
- Subfamily Cardiocraniinae
- Genus Cardiocranius
- Five-toed Pygmy JerboaFive-toed Pygmy JerboaThe Five-toed Pygmy Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Cardiocranius.It is found in China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.Its natural habitat is temperate desert....
, Cardiocranius paradoxus
- Five-toed Pygmy Jerboa
- Genus Salpingotulus
- Baluchistan Pygmy JerboaBaluchistan Pygmy JerboaThe Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa, or the Dwarf Three-toed Jerboa, is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is the only species in the genus Salpingotulus. Adults average only 4.4cm head and body length, with the tail averaging 8cm. Adult females weigh 3.75 grams. It is endemic to Pakistan...
, Salpingotulus michaelis
- Baluchistan Pygmy Jerboa
- Genus SalpingotusSalpingotusSalpingotus is a genus of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It contains the following species:* Genus Salpingotus**Subgenus Anguistodontus*** Thick-tailed Pygmy Jerboa **Subgenus Prosalpingotus...
, Pygmy Jerboas- Subgenus Anguistodontus
- Thick-tailed Pygmy JerboaThick-tailed Pygmy JerboaThe Thick-tailed Pygmy Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. Its natural habitats are temperate grassland and temperate desert...
, Salpingotus crassicauda
- Thick-tailed Pygmy Jerboa
- Subgenus Prosalpingotus
- Heptner's Pygmy JerboaHeptner's Pygmy JerboaHeptner's Pygmy Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and possibly Russia. Its natural habitat is temperate desert.-References:...
, Salpingotus heptneri - Pale Pygmy JerboaPale Pygmy JerboaThe Pale Pygmy Jerboa or Pallid Pygmy Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Kazakhstan. It has a gaping jaw that is able to unhinge like that of a snake....
, Salpingotus pallidus - Thomas's Pygmy JerboaThomas's Pygmy JerboaThomas's Pygmy Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is endemic to Afghanistan. Its natural habitat is temperate desert.-References:* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Salpingotus thomasi
- Heptner's Pygmy Jerboa
- Subgenus Salpingotus
- Kozlov's Pygmy JerboaKozlov's Pygmy JerboaKozlov's Pygmy Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in China and Mongolia. Its natural habitat is temperate desert.-References:...
, Salpingotus kozlovi
- Kozlov's Pygmy Jerboa
- Subgenus Anguistodontus
- Genus Cardiocranius
- Subfamily DipodinaeDipodinaeDipodinae is a subfamily of Dipodidae.-Classification:Subfamily Dipodinae*Tribe Dipodini**Genus Dipus***Northern Three-toed Jerboa, Dipus sagitta**Genus Eremodipus***Lichtenstein's Jerboa, Eremodipus lichtensteini...
- Tribe Dipodini
- Genus Dipus
- Northern Three-toed JerboaNorthern Three-toed JerboaThe Northern Three-toed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Dipus.It is found in China, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.-References:...
, Dipus sagitta
- Northern Three-toed Jerboa
- Genus Eremodipus
- Lichtenstein's JerboaLichtenstein's JerboaLichtenstein's Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Eremodipus.It is found in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.-References:...
, Eremodipus lichtensteini
- Lichtenstein's Jerboa
- Genus Jaculus
- Blanford's JerboaBlanford's JerboaBlanford's Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.-References:...
, Jaculus blanfordi - Lesser Egyptian JerboaLesser Egyptian JerboaThe Lesser Egyptian Jerboa الجربوع , Jaculus jaculus, is a little rodent of Africa and the Middle East.Its diet consists of seeds and grasses, however the Jerboa needs very little water to survive.-References:...
, Jaculus jaculus - Greater Egyptian JerboaGreater Egyptian JerboaThe Greater Egyptian Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry shrubland, sandy shores, and arable land.-References:* Aulagnier, S. 2004. . ...
, Jaculus orientalis - Greatest Egyptian Jerboa, "Jaculus bishoylus"
- Blanford's Jerboa
- Genus StylodipusStylodipusStylodipus is a genus of rodent in the Dipodidae family.It contains the following species:* Andrews's Three-toed Jerboa * Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa...
, Three-toed Jerboas- Andrews's Three-toed JerboaAndrews's Three-toed JerboaAndrews's Three-toed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in China and Mongolia.- References :* Baillie, J. 1996. . Downloaded on 30 July 2007....
, Stylodipus andrewsi - Mongolian Three-toed JerboaMongolian Three-toed JerboaThe Mongolian Three-toed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in Mongolia and possibly China.-References:...
, Stylodipus sungorus - Thick-tailed Three-toed JerboaThick-tailed Three-toed JerboaThe Thick-tailed Three-toed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is found in China, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.-References:...
, Stylodipus telum
- Andrews's Three-toed Jerboa
- Genus Dipus
- Tribe Paradipodini
- Genus Paradipus
- Comb-toed JerboaComb-toed JerboaThe Comb-toed Jerboa is a species of rodent in the Dipodidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Paradipus. It is found in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.-References:...
, Paradipus ctenodactylus
- Comb-toed Jerboa
- Genus Paradipus
- Tribe Dipodini
- Subfamily Euchoreutinae
- Genus Euchoreutes, Long-eared Jerboa
- Long-eared JerboaLong-eared JerboaThe Long-eared Jerboa, Euchoreutes naso, is a nocturnal mouse-like rodent with a long tail, long hind legs for jumping, and exceptionally large ears...
, Euchoreutes naso
- Long-eared Jerboa
- Genus Euchoreutes, Long-eared Jerboa