Dipus
| Dipus | |
|---|---|
| Northern three-toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Dipodidae |
| Tribe: | Dipodini |
| Genus: | Dipus Zimmermann, 1780 |
| Type species | |
| Mus sagitta Pallas, 1773 | |
| Species | |
| |
Dipus, meaning "two foot" in Ancient Greek, is a genus of jerboa. Today only a single species is usually recognized, the northern three-toed jerboa (Dipus sagitta), widespread throughout Central Asia. Some authors recognize a second species, the Qaidam three-toed jerboa (Dipus deasyi) from the Qaidam Basin of western China. The genus has a fossil record that dates back to the Miocene, with several extinct species known from Asia. The oldest dated species is Dipus conditor.