User:TomBarbey/California kangaroo rat

Taxonomy
Dipodomys californicus was formerly included as a subspecies of Dipodomys heermanni, but differs enough in chromosomal and biochemical characteristics to warrant being recognized as a distinct species.

One such distinction between Dipodomys californicus and other four toed species of Dipodmys heermanni is their unique tail coloration which features a white tip with black stripes on the top and bottom