Vol. 7 No. 3 (2016)

The kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) is one of the most representative species living in desert regions of Mexico and southern United States.  D. merriami is the species with the broadest geographic distribution, ranging from central Mexico northward to southern United States. This species has two populations restricted to the islands of San José and Margarita, both considered as endangered. These island populations include few individuals and are currently under heavy stress due to predation by feral cats (Photograph by Sergio Ticul Álvarez Castañeda).