Dark kangaroo mouse facts for kids
The dark kangaroo mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus) is a small rodent that lives in parts of the United States. You can find it in states like California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.
Quick facts for kids Dark kangaroo mouse |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Microdipodops
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| Species: |
megacephalus
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Contents
What is a Dark Kangaroo Mouse?
The dark kangaroo mouse, also called the Owyhee River kangaroo mouse, gets its name from its dark fur and how it moves. It hops around on its long back legs, much like a kangaroo! These tiny animals are part of the rodent family.
They have a head that looks big compared to their body. This is because of their large ear bones. They also have a short neck, big ears, noticeable eyes, a long nose, and long whiskers. Their tail is long, covered in hair, and can look a bit fat.
Appearance
The fur of a dark kangaroo mouse is long, soft, and silky. Their back is usually brownish to grayish-black. Their belly is lighter, often grayish or whitish.
Their tail is special because it can swell up in the middle. This swelling is from fat stored inside. The amount of fat changes with the seasons. Before winter, their tails get thick with fat. This fat is used as energy when they are dormant. In spring, after hibernation, their tails become thin again. This unique fat storage in the tail is rare among small mammals in North America.
Male and female dark kangaroo mice look very similar. Their body length is usually between 138 to 177 millimeters (about 5.4 to 7 inches). Their tail can be 68 to 103 millimeters long. An adult mouse typically weighs about 10 to 17 grams.
Where They Live and Their Home
Dark kangaroo mice live in the western United States. You can find them in southeastern Oregon, parts of California, Nevada, a small bit of southwestern Idaho, and west-central Utah.
They like to live in areas with loose sand and gravel. These places are often found in warmer, drier regions.
Conservation Status and Predators
This species is listed as "Least Concern" on the Red List. This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing. They are found in many places. However, their numbers have gone down a little. This is because some of their homes have been lost due to farming.
Their main predators are animals like owls, foxes, badgers, and snakes.
What They Eat
Dark kangaroo mice mainly eat small seeds. They are called "granivores" because of this. They carry the seeds back to their burrows in special pouches in their cheeks.
In the summer, they also eat some insects. This change in diet might happen because other mice, like pocket mice, are very active then. They might be competing for the same food.
Water Needs
Kangaroo mice do not usually drink water. Instead, they get all the water they need from the food they eat. They also have clever ways to save water. They are active at night when it's cooler, so they lose less water. They also make very concentrated urine and dry waste. This helps them keep more water in their bodies.
How They Behave
Dark kangaroo mice mostly move by hopping on their two back legs. This is called "bipedalism." Scientists think they hop mainly to find food. Moving around this way is a bonus. They can also walk on all four legs when they are in small spaces, like a cage.
These mice are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night. They are usually most active in the first two hours after the sun sets. You can see them active from March through October. During the cold winter months, they go into hibernation. This means they go into a deep sleep to save energy.
Their activity can also be affected by moonlight and temperature. They are less active when it's too hot or too cold. They also tend to be less active when the moon is bright.
See also
In Spanish: Microdipodops megacephalus para niños
