Desert Kangaroo Rats

Regardless of which breed of rat you are talking about it is considered a rodent. Just the word rodent brings up poor mental images for some people but the many species of rodents have unique characteristics that make them interesting to learn about. The desert kangaroo rat has learned to adapt to the harsh conditions of deserts.

The desert kangaroo rat is a rat. They are not related to the kangaroo in any way but they do have a hop that is similar to the kangaroo. They have some biped behaviors that make them different from most other rats.

Their scientific name is Dipodomys deserti. Studies of their evolution show that they are not related to the kangaroo mouse and completely different from the desert rat-kangaroo, which has gone extinct as a species. These rats are medium sized and have a round shape to their bodies. Their hairless ears are round and they have a tail that is usually longer in length than their bodies. They have external pouches in their cheeks that are lined with fur. These pouches are used to help them store and carry food they find in the harsh desert environment.

The desert kangaroo rat is a native species to North American and populate the sandy, dry desert-like areas there. They are also, now, found in some rocky areas of Central America. These rats prefer to live in burrows, like other rodents. These burrows help protect them during the day when the heat can reach dangerous temperatures.

One of the most unique adaptations they have is that they can live their entire lives without water. They don't commonly go a whole life without water but it is possible. Their bodies concentrate urine four times as much as humans do. This allows them to get more water out of the food they find. This is probably the most important factor in their ability to thrive in desert conditions.

Their diets consist of insects, seeds, and any vegetation they can find during the night. They search for food during the night to avoid the heat of the daytime. They use their pouches to carry food back to their burrows to store. When living in a desert, it is important to save the food that is found and not eaten right away.

These rodents have high pitched sounds they create and use for communication. These sounds are also used during their mating season which runs from February to October. A liter of offspring is around four newborns. The babies are born without hair and are unable to see. They are cared for in the burrows until they are old enough to venture out safely. Females can produce three liters each year which is important because their lifespan is only three to five years.

Desert kangaroo rats are usually not considered a good breed for a pet rat, although they are kept in captivity in some situations. Most pet rats today are slightly domesticated for use as pets. This helps them become better companions for humans. Regardless, the desert kangaroo rat is an interesting study of survival in harsh conditions and their desire to survive is commendable.