From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :
Dipodomys \Dipodomys\ n.
a genus of rodents of the family Heteromyidae, comprising
the genus of kangaroo rats which live in arid regions of
Mexico and the western U. S.
Note: An Australian rodent of the genus Notomys is also
referred to as a kangaroo rat, as is the potoroo. See
kangaroo rat
Syn: genus Dipodomys.
[WordNet 1.5 +PJC]