Animal Fact Sheet

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Animal Fact Sheet: Merriam's Kangaroo Rat

 Identifying Features
Kangaroo rats have long tails and big hind feet
with four toes. They have large heads with big
eyes and small ears. They are a sandy brown
color with a white underbelly.

 Adaptations
The kangaroo rat is almost perfectly adapted to life in the desert. They can
survive without ever drinking any water, getting needed moisture from their
seed diet. They have excellent hearing and can even detect the silent sound
of an owl approaching. Their large back legs enable them to jump up to 9 feet
(2.75m) in one jump in order to escape predators.

 Habitat
Kangaroo rats inhabit a variety of desert niches. These can include open
desert scrub, open grasslands, washes, sandy soils or creosote flats.

 Range
Kangaroo rats are found in the drier regions of the western and southwestern
U.S.

 Wild Status
The kangaroo rat is not endangered. Its status in the wild is good right now.

 Diet
Kangaroo rats eat seeds from a variety of desert grasses as well as mesquite
beans. On occasion, some kangaroo rats will eat green vegetation and some
insects.
 Predators
Unfortunately for the kangaroo rat, it has many predators. There are many
creatures out there who would like to make a tasty meal out of this small
creature. Owls, snakes, bobcats, foxes, badgers, coyotes, ringtail, and your
cat or dog are just a few.

 Home
Kangaroo rats generally live in underground burrows which they have
excavated themselves. Often times the burrow is at the base of a shrub or
bush. It spends most of its day underground sleeping, and comes out to feed
at night when it is cooler.

 Life Span
The life span of a wild kangaroo rat is not very long, only 2-5 years.

 Size
Depending on the subspecies, kangaroo rats can weigh up to 4.5 ounces (128
g). Their body length can be 3.5 to 5.5 inches (8 -14 cm) and their tail can be
5.5 to 6.5 inches long (14-16 cm).

 Extra Fun-facts
 Kangaroo rats have pouches, but not for carrying their babies.
Their pouches are on the outside of their cheeks and are used
for carrying seeds back to their burrows.
 Kangaroo Rats don't sweat or pant like other animals to keep
cool because that would cause them to loose water from their
bodies.

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