Merriam's Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys merriami) lives in desert grasslands across Southwestern North America. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Merriam's Kangaroo Rat
- Merriam's kangaroo rats have an average total length of 247 mm. The tail is rather long, about 144 mm in length, with an end tassle. It is usually more than 130% of the the length of the head and body. The hind feet, bearing four toes, are very large, (39 mm), with hairy soles. These oversized, four-toed feet and long tail, letting the rodent bound across loose sand and stay stable while escaping predators.
- Average territory size for males is 67,300 square feet, less than one acre. Average female territories are 4000 square feet. Males and females each establish individual territories. They defend their territories against other male and female merriami, primarily to protect often scarce food resources.
- Most kangaroo rats are exclusively nocturnal. Even so, they tend to avoid being outside their burrows when the moon is full. When the amount of moonlight is great they retreat underground in order to avoid predation. In some areas, above ground activity is limited to two hours or less. By hiding during bright nights, they lower the chance of being spotted by owls and other visual hunters.
- They turn desert seeds into a water source. Kangaroo rats lose water mainly by evaporation during gas exchange, and so have developed a behavioural adaptation to prevent this loss. When collecting seeds, they store them in the burrows rather than eating them straight away. The diet of Merriam's kangaroo rat is almost exclusively plant seeds (they are granivorous). They rarely drink water. Rather, they obtain water through metabolic processes augmented by the moisture content of their food. This strategy lets them thrive where liquid water is scarce.
- In southern California one subspecies, the San Bernardino kangaroo rat, Dipodomys merriami parvus, is at risk due primarily to urban development including construction of dams and alteration of hydrologic regimes throughout its range. Once common on alluvial plains in the washes of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service listed the San Bernardino kangaroo rat as endangered in 1998. This shows how even hardy desert dwellers can be pushed to the brink by habitat change.
Sources
Every fact above was checked against these pages, and kept only where one of them states it.
At a glance
RangeSouthwestern North America
HabitatDesert grasslands
DietSeeds and grains
About the Merriam's Kangaroo Rat
In the arid expanse of the desert, the Merriam's Kangaroo Rat is a whirlwind of energetic motion, its long hind legs propelling it in great bounding leaps across the sand as it forages for seeds and vegetation under the light of the moon. With its oversized ears and twitching whiskers, this diminutive rodent navigates its harsh environment with remarkable agility, dodging predators and rival suitors with an effortless ease that belies its fragile appearance. As it pauses to survey its surroundings, the kangaroo rat's large, dark eyes shine like polished onyx, filled with a quiet intensity that speaks to its resourceful and resilient nature.
Hear the Merriam's Kangaroo Rat, and 4,400+ more
Real recorded sounds, 11 nature games and a free Daily 5, 1v1 quiz duels, conservation wins and a safe Kids mode. Free on Feravox.
