Kangaroo rat is a rodent that jumps around like a kangaroo on long, powerful hind legs. Kangaroo rats grow only about 15 inches (38 centimeters) long, including a tail of more than 8 inches (20 centimeters). They have short front legs, large heads, and big eyes. Their silky fur is yellow or brown on the upper parts and white on the underparts.
Kangaroo rats live in the deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico. They nest in burrows (tunnels) and come out at night to gather plant food. Kangaroo rats use their small front feet to stuff food into fur-lined pouches on the outside of their cheeks. They carry the food back to their nests. Kangaroo rats, like their relatives the pocket mice, do not need to drink water. They use the water that is produced when food inside them combines with the oxygen that they breathe.
