The first of our kangaroo rat facts is that their name is a bit misleading. Although their name suggests that they are kangaroos or rats, they are actually neither. Kangaroo rats are small rodents that live in the desert. They adapt well to desert life and have physical refinements that allow them to avoid and escape predators. These big-eyed, big-legged, and big-tailed rodents sure are cute and but there are many other kangaroo rat facts that are absolutely intriguing, so read on. IMAGE ONE – EXAMPLE: SAN QUINTIN (CAPTION) –The San Quintin kangaroo rat is only found in Baja California and is critically endangered.)
1. Kangaroo Rat Facts – Many Species, Similar Appearance
Different kangaroo rat species share similar appearances. However, they all have relatively long brown to grey fur on top with a lighter underside. Kangaroo rats are small rodents with small and dark eyes, big, round heads, and four toes on each hind foot. But not all species have four toes on their hind feet. They get their name due to their strong hind legs, which allow them to jump long distances. Their front legs are smaller like kangaroos, and they use their tails for balance, also like kangaroos. Their tails have tufts and are usually longer than their bodies. Kangaroo rats have cheek pouches where they store food like seeds, which are also lined with fur.
2. Freeze-Mode Defense Mechanism
They can use their strong hind legs for protection. Kangaroo rats can jump quite far and use this ability to get away from predators. Another defense mechanism that Kangaroo rats have is freeze-mode when they become entirely still before flicking. This freeze mode makes it more difficult for predators to see and catch them.
3. Tiny But Mighty
Kangaroo rats are small. Their size ranges by species, but on average, they weigh 4.5 ounces, grow to a length of between 3.5 and 5.5 inches, and have a tail that is 5.5 to 6.5 inches long.
4. Social Hierarchy
Kangaroo rats live within a social hierarchy, with the males creating and maintaining the social order. The dominant male kangaroo rat will have more access to females for mating. Male kangaroo rats also fight each other. The males will fight by jumping into the air and kicking each other with their hind legs. Males are more volatile and females are generally more peaceful. These rats also communicate through different vocalizations and by drumming their feet.
5. Kangaroo Rat Living Locations
Kangaroo rats live in deserts. Some of the deserts they call home are 7,000 feet above sea level. An example of a species that lives at this elevation is Ord’s kangaroo rat. Ord’s kangaroo rats live in burrows of shifting dunes. Other areas where kangaroo rats live are scrubland, creosote flats, desert washes, and open grasslands. Kangaroo rats live in caves beneath the sand or soft soil of the desert, with one adult residing in each burrow. Although they live alone, they join others to forage for food. Kangaroo rats will stay in their holes during the heat of the day and during storms, but come out to feed, mainly at night. They do this to conserve energy and water and to avoid predators. The burrows are not a single space but are divided into different compartments. Kangaroo rats use these separate spaces for sleeping, feeding, and sometimes mating. Their territory often spans 200 to 300 feet.
6. Adapted for Life in the Desert
Kangaroo rats are adapted to live in deserts. These animals can survive without drinking water as they get their necessary moisture from seeds and beans. Other species even eat saltbush plants to obtain their moisture intake. These little rodents have also evolved excellent hearing, allowing them to detect the sounds of nearby predators. Additionally, they have strong hind legs, enabling them to jump nine feet to escape predators.
7. Haystack Storage System – A Fun Kangaroo Rat Fact
Kangaroo rats mainly eat seeds and beans. Before returning to their territories, they often store these foods in their cheek pouches. Kangaroo rats obtain grains and beans from plants like creosote bushes, ocotillos, and mesquite. Some species, like the giant kangaroo rat, allow the seeds to dry out in piles or pits known as haystacks before carrying them to their burrow for storage. If kangaroo rats cannot find grains and beans, they will eat wheat, moths, grasshoppers, and other insects.
8. Early Sexual Maturity and Polygamous Mating
Kangaroo rats can mate as young as three months old. These animals do not mate for life and often have multiple reproductive partners. Females also usually mate with numerous males within a short period. Before mating, the male and female kangaroo rats playfully chase each other in a flirting game. Females have several litters annually, each with an average of three pups. When there are more abundant food sources in the area, kangaroo rats will mate more frequently. Female kangaroo rats are pregnant for under four weeks and will line their burrow with fur before giving birth. After the pups turn three weeks old, they become independent but stay with their mother for a few more months.
9. They Have Many Predators
The Kangaroo rat has many predators. Although they have defense mechanisms, they are not always successful. Their predators are owls, snakes, bobcats, foxes, badgers, coyotes, ringtails, and even domesticated cats and dogs.
10. Over 20 Kangaroo Rat Types
Facts about the kangaroo rat include over 20 species. Examples of kangaroo rats are:
The big-eared Kangaroo rat is known for its large ears.The Fresno Kangaroo rat is the smallest of all species, only four inches long.The banner-tailed Kangaroo rat has a striped tail that moves like a banner.Unlike most species, the Panamint Kangaroo rat and Heermann’s kangaroo rat have five toes on their hind feet. The Panamint Kangaroo rat also has an extremely long tail.The chisel-toothed Kangaroo rat has 13 subspecies and is named after the shape of its teeth. Uniquely, these Kangaroo rats have the evolved ability to flush the salt from the saltbush plant while holding on to the water.The San Quintin Kangaroo rat is only found in Baja, California, and is critically endangered.
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