OLYMPIC ANIMALS DAY #4
Day four of our Olympic animal week takes us to deserts of the Southwestern U.S. We’re looking for a small rodent that will take on the long jump! Let’s all practice our hoping skills and meet…
MEET THE MERRIAN KANGAROO RAT!
Range/Habitat: Southwestern U.S.-Northern Mexico/deserts-scrubs
Diet: Herbivores: seeds, vegetation
Length/Weight: 3 ¼-5 ½”/ 7/16- 1 5/8 oz
Conservation Status: Common
Fun Facts:
- Merrian Kangaroo rats are the smallest member of the kangaroo rat family.
- They have large back legs and feet.
- Merrian kangaroo rats have long slender tails that help them balance when they hop or stand!
- They move much like a kangaroo.
- Merrian kangaroo rats can jump 7-8ft in one leap!
- They are neither kangaroos nor rats!
- Merrian kangaroo rats live in burrows.
- They’re adapted to survive on little water.
Kangaroo rats are just so cute, with their fat bodies and their kangaroo like features. And man can they leap! We’re going to practice our hopping skills today. Edmond is much better than Ellie for sure!
The Adventures of Ellie and Edmond 
Way cool!
Wonder if they could out hop you!
He’s a cutie-pie…! 🙂
Yes they are!
What a fascinating creature!
And they’re cute!