Dipodomys compactus True 1889
Creators: name: Don E. Wilson
name: Thomas E. Lacher, Jr
name: Russell A. Mittermeier
Publisher: name: Lynx Edicions
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Rodentia
Heteromyidae
Dipodomys
Dipodomys compactus

description: 56.
Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat
Dipodomys compactus
French: Rat-kangourou cotier / German: Golfkisten-Kdngururatte / Spanish: Rata canguro de la Costa del Golfo
Taxonomy. Dipodomys compactus True, 1889,
Padre Island, Cameron Co., Texas, USA.
Based on molecular sequence analyses, D. compactus is a member of the ordii species group, along with D. ordi; the two were previously considered conspecific. Two subspecies recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution.
D.c.compactusTrue,1889—SUSAandNEMexico(MustangandPadreIsofSETexasandbarrierislandsofNTamaulipas).
D. c. sennettiJ. A. Allen, 1891 — S USA (mainland of SE Texas).
Descriptive notes. Head—-body 99-120 mm (males) and 105-134 mm (females), tail 104-135 mm (males) and 105-132 mm (females), ear mean 13 mm, hindfoot mean 37 mm; weight 46-60 g (males) and 44-46 g (females). Male Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rats are slightly larger than females in external measurements but smaller in most cranial measurement. This is a medium-sized kangaroo rat with five toes on hindfeet (including small claw on side of hindfoot) and narrow skull. Upper parts of Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rats on barrier islands of Texas, USA, and Tamaulipas, Mexico, are grayish cream (paler than any other species of kangaroo rat) or orangish yellow. Upper parts of those on the Texas mainland are slightly darker reddish yellow. Tail is relatively short and less distinctly bicolored, with shorter, sparser crest and tuft. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 74 and FN = 144. The Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat and Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (D. ordii) differ morphologically and are sympatric in parts of the distribution of the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat. In these areas, the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat has shortertail that is less bushy and with shorter dorsal crest; ventral stripe oftail is lighter and does not extend to tip; pelage is coarser and shorter; and auditory bullae are less inflated.
Habitat. Sparsely vegetated, sandy areas. On barrier islands off the coast of Texas and Tamaulipas, the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rats usually is confined to dunes, away from prevailing winds, but is sometimes found in level areas. On these islands, it is found with sea-oats (Uniola, Poaceae), bluestem (Andropogon, Poaceae), shoregrass (Monanthochloe, Poaceae), croton (Croton, Euphorbiaceae), sunflowers (Helianthus, Asteraceae), and fimbry (Fimbristylis, Cyperaceae). On the Texas mainland, they inhabit areas of loose, deep sand with scattered vegetation, such as open mesquite (Prosops, Fabaceae) savanna. Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rats also occupy disturbed habitats such as fields cleared of native brush or plowed roadside firebreaks. Vegetation in these disturbed sites include true grasses (e.g. three-awn, Aristida; grama, Bouteloua; windmill grass, Chloris; and bluestem), prickly pear (Opuntia, Cactaceae), and mesquite. Species of rodents co-occurring with the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat in island and mainland areas include the Spotted Ground Squirrel (Xerospermophilus spilosoma), pocket gophers (Geomys), Merriam’s Pocket Mouse (Perognathus merriami), the Northern Grasshopper Mouse (Onychomys leucogaster), the Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus), and the Southern Plains Woodrat (Neotoma micropus). On the mainland, the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat is also found in association with the Hispid Pocket Mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus) and the White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus), and it shares ¢.50% of its mainland distribution with Ord’s Kangaroo Rat. Where the two kangaroo rats co-occur, the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat occupies soft soils where vegetation is open and low; Ord’s Kangaroo Rat occupies undisturbed brushland with hard-packed soil and thick vegetation.
Food and Feeding. There is no specific information available for this species, but diet of the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat likely contained seeds, green vegetation, and some insects.
Breeding. Breeding of the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat occurs in July-August.
Activity patterns. There is no information available for this species.
Movements, Home range and Social organization. There is no information available for this species.
Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List. Island populations of the Gulf Coast Kangaroo Rat may be affected by infrastructure development on the barrier islands.
Bibliography. Alexander & Riddle (2005), Baumgardner (1991, 1999), Best (1993a), Ceballos & Oliva (2005), Eisenberg (1963, 1993), Hafner et al. (2007), Hall (1981), Jones (1993), Linzey & NatureServe (Hammerson) (2008c), Patton & Rogers (1993), Williams et al. (1993).
description: Published as part of Don E. Wilson, Thomas E. Lacher, Jr & Russell A. Mittermeier, 2016, Heteromyidae, pp. 170-233 in Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 6 Lagomorphs and Rodents I, Barcelona :Lynx Edicions on pages 227-228, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.6611160