Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Dipodomys phillipsii

Dipodomys phillipsii

9.9
A large kangaroo rat that jumps and lives in dry desert burrows
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : Dipodomys phillipsii
  • The Dipodomys phillipsii thrives in arid regions where it digs extensive burrows.

Examples

  • Unlike some other rodents, Dipodomys phillipsii can survive with very little water intake.

  • Did you know that the Dipodomys phillipsii can jump up to three feet?

  • Researchers studied the diet of Dipodomys phillipsii to understand its adaptation to desert life.

  • The Dipodomys phillipsii is an interesting species to study.

  • Researchers studied the behavior of Dipodomys phillipsii to learn more about its habitat preferences in the desert.

  • The Dipodomys phillipsii is known for its large hind legs, which allow it to jump great distances across sandy terrain.

  • In the dry climate of the Sonoran Desert, the Dipodomys phillipsii has adapted its lifestyle to thrive with minimal water resources.

Synonyms

desert rat
vsDipodomys phillipsii
  • US
1 8.0

A small hopping animal that lives in deserts, often in North America and Mexico, and eats seeds

is a single named species within that broader group
kangaroo rat
vsDipodomys phillipsii
  • US
1 6.3

A small desert animal like a mouse that hops on long hind legs and has a long tail

is notably larger than that typical small desert rodent

Surface Forms

Dipodomys phillipsii singular
Dipodomys phillipsiis plural

Morphology

Dipodomys + phillipsii

The genus name 'Dipodomys' directly indicates a type of kangaroo rat, so a learner who knows that can infer the referent is a species of that animal. However, 'phillipsii' is a Latinized species epithet (a proper name) with no independent lexical meaning for a B1 learner, and understanding the full label requires knowledge of biological naming conventions, so the sense is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Dipodomys phillipsii is the scientific name for Phillips's kangaroo rat. The part Dipodomys comes from words meaning 'two' and 'foot', which creates a picture of its long hind legs and how it hops, and phillipsii honors a person named Phillips, so the name tells us it is a hopping rodent named for Phillips.