INTRODUCTION
Hi, I am the Desert Kngaroo rat. I live in the Sonoran Deserts of Arizona, California and Southern Nevada. I make large dens underground and live alone in my burrow. I got my name because I have a pouch in my cheek and look like a miniature kangaroo. I am a cute little rodent with buff yellow fur on my back and white under my tummy. I love to eat insects, seeds and leaves. I usually come out at night and sometimes I can have babies more than three times a year.
WHO AM I?
I am the Desert Kangaroo Rat. I am a rodent from the genus Dipodomys. I love to sleep most of the day underground in my den and then come out at night when the air is cool to find my food.
WHERE DO I LIVE?
I Live in the Sonoran Deserts of Arizona, California and Southern Nevada. I make large burrows underground. I have my main nesting chamber and little storage rooms for food that connect through passageways. I like to live alone in the desert scrub.
WHAT DO I EAT?
I find insects, seeds and leaves on stems to nourish me. I find water in the food that I eat which helps when you live in the desert. I can store my food in a little cheek pouch for weeks if I need to look for a new place to shelter myself.
HOW DO I LOOK?
I am a very cute rodent and I look like a miniature kangaroo. My fur is a buff yellow covering my back and my tummy is white. I have wonderful large eyes and a fluffy white tuft on the tip of my tail. I can use my tail to help me steer myself and keep me balanced.
HOW DO I REPRODUCE?
I have babies anywhere from January through June. I will have a litter of babies three or more times a year. I am pregnant for about 30 days each time. I start to wean my babies at 3 weeks.
FUN FACT ABOUT ME:
I don't ever like to sweat to keep my body cool. Not only does it make me stinky but it makes me loose very important water from my body. Since I live in the desert, I need all the water I can get.
ACTIVITY
You did a great job working on this lesson today. I hope that you had a wonderful time learning about me. So, let’s have fun doing an activity about me. You can work with your friends, parents or teacher. I want you to create a clay model of me. Try to include as many of my features that you learned about in the model. After you let your model dry you may paint it too. Have fun!!!