Kangaroo mouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kangaroo mouseTemporal range: Late Pleistocene – Recent
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| A pale kangaroo mouse in Nevada | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Subfamily: | Dipodomyinae |
| Genus: | Microdipodops Merriam, 1891 |
| Species | |
A kangaroo mouse is a small, jumping rodent found in the deserts of the Southwestern United States. These tiny animals are known for their amazing jumping skills, much like a kangaroo! They also move around on two legs, which is called bipedal locomotion. Most kangaroo mice live in the state of Nevada.
There are two main types of kangaroo mice:
- Pale Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops pallidus)
- Dark Kangaroo Mouse (Microdipodops megacephalus)
Contents
Where They Live and What They Eat
Both types of kangaroo mice live in sandy desert areas. They search for food among the scrub brush plants in their homes. Their main diet includes seeds and other plant parts. The Dark Kangaroo Mouse sometimes eats insects and even dead animals.
One interesting fact about kangaroo mice is that they never drink water! Instead, they get all the water they need from the food they eat. This process is called metabolic water production.
Homes and Family Life
Kangaroo mice are very good at collecting food. They store large amounts of food in their burrows, which are underground tunnels. These burrows can be quite long, from about 3 to 8 feet (1 to 2.5 meters).
During the day, the mouse covers the entrance to its burrow. This helps keep it safe and cool. Burrows are also where female kangaroo mice raise their young. A mother mouse can have between 2 and 7 babies in one litter.
The Pale Kangaroo Mouse prefers to dig its burrows only in fine sand. The Dark Kangaroo Mouse likes fine, gravelly soils, but it can also dig in sand or sandy soil.
Daily Life and Habits
Kangaroo mice are nocturnal, meaning they are most active at night. They usually start moving around in the two hours after sunset. When the weather gets very cold, they are believed to hibernate, which means they go into a deep sleep to save energy.
Relatives
Kangaroo mice are closely related to kangaroo rats. Both animals belong to the same group of rodents, called Dipodomyinae. They share many similar features, like their jumping ability and desert homes.
Kangaroo Mice in Stories
Kangaroo mice have even appeared in popular culture! In Frank Herbert's famous science fiction book series, Dune, the main character Paul Atreides gets the name Muad'Dib. In the language of the Fremen people on the planet Arrakis, Muad'Dib means kangaroo mouse. These mice are seen as very smart and good at surviving, so they are called "instructor-of-boys" in the story.
