Nelson's kangaroo rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nelson's kangaroo rat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Heteromyidae |
| Genus: | Dipodomys |
| Species: |
D. nelsoni
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| Binomial name | |
| Dipodomys nelsoni Merriam, 1907
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The Nelson's kangaroo rat (its scientific name is Dipodomys nelsoni) is a small, jumping animal. It belongs to the rodent family called Heteromyidae. This special rat lives only in the central plateau of Mexico.
Contents
What Does Nelson's Kangaroo Rat Look Like?
Nelson's kangaroo rat is one of the bigger types of kangaroo rats. It grows to be about 31.5 centimeters (12.4 inches) long. Its tail makes up a big part of that length, about 18.8 centimeters (7.4 inches).
Size and Color
This rat has pale brown fur on its back and head. Some hairs on its head, along its spine, and on its rump have dark tips. Its belly is white. The tail is also special! It has a white stripe on each side for about two-thirds of its length. The last third of the tail is bushy and black with a white tip.
Comparing to Other Kangaroo Rats
Nelson's kangaroo rat looks a lot like the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis). However, the Nelson's kangaroo rat is smaller. It usually weighs about 87 grams (3 ounces). The banner-tailed kangaroo rat is heavier, weighing around 125 grams (4.4 ounces).
Where Do Nelson's Kangaroo Rats Live?
Nelson's kangaroo rat lives only in the Mexican Altiplano. This is a large, high area in Mexico. It sits between two big mountain ranges: the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Oriental.
Their Home Environment
These rats prefer rolling grasslands. They also live in dry areas that have scattered trees and shrubs. You might find plants like Acacia, Prosopis juliflora, Larrea tridentata, Fouquieria splendens, cactus, Yucca, and Agave in their habitat.
Life and Habits of Nelson's Kangaroo Rat
Nelson's kangaroo rats are very good at building homes. They create a complex system of tunnels underground.
Their Burrows
Each burrow system has several entrances. These entrances are usually surrounded by a large, low, dome-shaped mound of dirt. Some burrows are found next to roads. Their entrances might be in the sides of banks or ditches. Other burrows have a clear strip of bare ground around them, about 20 meters (65 feet) wide. It's hard to dig out their burrows because the tunnels go deep and sideways through rocky layers!
What Do They Eat?
Nelson's kangaroo rats eat plants. Their diet mainly includes seeds.
Reproduction and Young
These rats can have babies throughout the year. However, they mostly breed in the spring and summer months. When female rats are caught, they often have two young in a litter.
Conservation Status
Nelson's kangaroo rat lives across a wide area in central Mexico. It is not super common, but there are still many of them. Scientists estimate there are about 9 to 20 rats per hectare (about 2.5 acres).
Why They Are "Least Concern"
The total number of Nelson's kangaroo rats is thought to be large. They don't face any major threats right now. Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed them as "least concern". This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
