| The Panamint Kangaroo Rat lives where vegetation includes creosote bush, cactus, yucca, juniper trees, and Joshua trees. A seed eater, this Kangaroo Rat makes particularly efficient use of its external cheek pouches, as it removes the hulls of seeds before placing them there, and therefore is able to carry more seeds per trip. It holds and manipulates seeds and other food items in its front paws, near its chest and out of eye range, before stuffing them into its cheek pouches. It does not seem to sniff the food items, relying only on its sense of touch to choose what to eat and what not to eat. Individuals live alone, and two will fight very aggressively if placed together, sometimes inflicting mortal wounds.
Also known as:
Mohave Kangaroo Rat
Sexual Dimorphism:
Males are larger than females.
Length:
Average:
292 mm males; 288 mm females
Weight:
Average:
72 g
References:
Merriam, C.H., 1894. Preliminary descriptions of eleven new kangaroo rats of the genera Dipodomys and Perodipus, p. 114. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington, 9:109-116.
Links:
Mammal Species of the World
Click here for The American Society of Mammalogists species account
|
Click to enlarge.
(119kb)
|
