Kangaroo Rat

Kangaroo Rat, common name for certain rodents found in North America that have storage pouches on the outside of their cheeks. Kangaroo rats are given their popular name because they hop like kangaroos on their extremely long hind legs. The animals range from 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) in body length; the tail is usually longer than the body. A typical Californian species has soft, silky fur that is tan above and white below, with a black tail and a black half-moon across its snout; a white stripe on each side of the body extends back to the tip of the tail.

Kangaroo rats live in colonies in arid regions and burrow into the ground, from which they emerge at night to feed on seeds, fruits, vegetation, and some insects. They are capable of surviving for long periods without water, which they derive from their food; they also have highly efficient kidneys for the removal of wastes. They produce up to three litters per year, usually with two to four young in each litter. Pygmy kangaroo rats, or kangaroo mice, are only 6.6 to 7.7 cm (2.6 to 3 in) long.

Scientific classification: Kangaroo rats belong to the family Heteromyidae. The Californian species is classified as Dipodomys agilis. Pygmy kangaroo rats belong to the genus Microdipodops.