Heermann's kangaroo rat

Heermann's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys heermanni) is a species of kangaroo rat, a rodent in the family Heteromyidae. Their long smooth pelage resembles typical kangaroo rats, with their dorsal side showing a mixed range of olive, black and orange colors. Nine different sub-species of Dipodomys heermanni' had been proposed:

• Dipodomys heermanni arenae
• Dipodomys heermanni berkeleyensis (Berkeley kangaroo rat)
• Dipodomys heermanni dixoni (Merced kangaroo rat)
• Dipodomys heermanni goldmani
• Dipodomys heermanni heermanni (Heermann's kangaroo rat)
• Dipodomys heermanni jolonensis
• Dipodomys heermanni morroensis, (Morro Bay kangaroo rat)
• Dipodomys heermanni swarthi
• Dipodomys heermanni tularensis

However, recent mitochondrial DNA and morphometric analyses failed to show support for any genetic differentiation or morphological clustering across geography to support the above subspecies delineations.

The dental formula of Dipodomys heermanni is 1.0.1.31.0.1.3 × 2 = 20.

It is considered "broad-faced", unlike many other species of kangaroo rats, which are considered to be "narrow-faced". It has five toes on each hind foot, and this small characteristic is important in distinguishing it from similar species such as Dipodomys californicus and Dipodomys nitratoides. Additionally it is smaller than Dipodomys ingens, Dipodomys venustus, and Dipodomys elephantinus.

Heermann's kangaroo rat averages a total length of 250–313 mm (9.8–12.3 in), with their tail measuring 160–200 mm (6.3–7.9 in), their hind foot measuring 38–46 mm (1.5–1.8 in), and their ear measuring 10–17 mm (0.39–0.67 in). Additionally when looking at all standard external measurements it has been found they demonstrate significant sexual dimorphism.

It is named after Adolphus Lewis Heermann, who collected the holotype of this species.