Dipodomys fossil map
Where fossils of Dipodomys have been found, shown on the Earth as it looked about 0 million years ago and on today’s map.
Dots are fossil collections recorded in the Paleobiology Database. The “then” view moves today’s fossil sites back to their positions 0 million years ago (the time slice nearest the median age of the fossils) using the Merdith et al. (2021) plate model; positions are approximate. Open on the timeline map →
| Group | Early mammals |
|---|---|
| Lived | 9.4 million years ago to the present (Tortonian to Holocene) |
| Periods | Neogene, Quaternary |
| Family | Heteromyidae |
| Named by | Gray 1841 |
| Fossil records | 290 occurrences at 39 locations (PBDB) |
| Found in | United States, Mexico |
| Rock formations | txn:41673, "unnamed sandstone", Palm Spring, St. David, San Timoteo, Pauba |
About Dipodomys
Kangaroo rats, small mostly nocturnal rodents of genus Dipodomys, are native to arid areas of western North America. The common name derives from their bipedal form. They hop in a manner similar to the much larger kangaroo, but developed this mode of locomotion independently, like several other clades of rodents (e.g., dipodids and hopping mice).
Text in “About” is quoted from the Wikipedia article Kangaroo rat (revision 1380054504), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0; introduction excerpted verbatim, formatting removed. Ages, family, authority and fossil records: Paleobiology Database, accessed 23 October 2026. Ages are those of the rock layers the fossils were found in. Wikidata: Q120094.
