Dipodomyinae is a subfamily of
heteromyid rodents, the kangaroo rats and mice. Dipodomyines, as implied by both their common and scientific names, are
bipedal; they also jump exceptionally well. Kangaroo rats and mice are native to
desert and
semidesert ecosystems of western North America from southern
Canada to central
Mexico. They are generally
herbivorousforagers, and dig and live in
burrows.
Taxonomy
Dipodomyinae is the
sister group of a
Perognathinae-
Heteromyinaeclade; the two are estimated to have split about 22-24 million years (
Ma) ago. The most recent common ancestor of extant dipodomyines is thought to have lived 15-16 Ma ago, when the two genera split. The most recent common ancestors of extant members of Dipodomys and Microdipodops are thought to have lived 10-11 and 7-8 Ma ago, respectively.[2]