| Range: |
Southwestern United States, northern Mexico |
| Habitat: |
Deserts, scrublands, dry grasslands |
| Conservation Status: |
Not listed by IUCN |
| Scientific Name: |
Dipodomys merriami |
As its name suggests, this rodent shares something in common with kangaroos. It can jump more than 10 feet, thanks to its strong back legs. It also uses its long tail like a kangaroo does, to keep its balance and help it make quick turns. Like many desert animals, the kangaroo rat rarely needs to drink water. It gets the moisture it needs from the dew that collects on the seeds it stashes in its burrow. The rat carries these seeds back home in special fur-lined "storage pouches" in its cheeks.
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