Facts About the Sahara Desert Kangaroo Rat

The Sahara desert runs through northwest Africa and encompasses nine countries, which makes it the largest desert in the world. The daytime temperature regularly tops 113 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the night the temperature often drops to below freezing. Within its harsh borders the kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spp.) resides. A few kangaroo rat species live in large colonies but others live a solitary existence.

  1. Desert Life

    • The kangaroo rat is highly adapted at living within the dry Sahara desert. The region normally receives less then 10 inches of rain per year. The kangaroo rat requires no water to drink. It derives all of its moisture needs from seeds and grasses that it consumes. The food that it gathers is transported within large, inside cheek pouches. The rat places the food within the burrow to be stored for future use. The nocturnal rodent spends most of its time at night gathering seeds and hoarding.

    Burrows

    • The kangaroo rat excavates large burrows that average 4 feet deep. The entrance holes are quite tiny and rarely exceed 3 to 4 inches in width. The burrow entrance leads to a vertical or horizontal shaft. Most burrows have six to 12 entrances. During the day, the rodent resides within its burrow and plugs the entrance using dirt to help keep the temperature lower. The plug also camouflages where the burrow is and helps to keep out predators.

    Reproduction

    • Kangaroo rats breed one to three times per year. The gestation after copulation lasts 32 days. Litter sizes range from one to seven, but normally the rat only has three live young. The female rat gives birth within the confines of her burrow on a nest made of grasses she has gathered.

    Night Life

    • During the cool of the night, the kangaroo rat exits it burrow to forage for food. Its furry body helps to insulate it from the desert cold. Numerous predators, such as birds of prey, snakes, badgers and foxes, pose a threat to the kangaroo rat. When threatened, the rat utilizes it extra large hind legs to jump up to nine feet into the air, according to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. The average lifespan of the kangaroo desert rat averages 2 to 5 years.

    Bathing

    • The desert kangaroo rat enjoys bathing daily. The rat will normally locate one area of fine sand to roll within daily. The bathing areas are located near the burrows and often used by family members.

    Appearance

    • The small rodent derived its name from its large hind feet that resemble a kangaroo's. The feet measure 1 1/2 to 2 inches in length depending on the species. The rat measures approximately 14 inches from head to tail but a few species measure slightly larger. Extra large eyes enable the rat to see well at night.