Heermann Kangaroo Rat

kangaroorat: COMMON NAME: Heermann Kangaroo Rat

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Dipodomys heermanni

DESCRIPTION:

Called kangaroo rats because they move bipedally, these small rodents use their hind limbs to hop around while balancing with their long tails. The Heermann sub-species is defined by the five toes on their hind feet and their broad face. They are colored brown above and white below with a light grey tail.

Nocturnal and solitary, the kangaroo rat is also known for communication through foot drumming instead of squeaks and chirps. They are normally 9.5-13.5" long.

LIFE HISTORY:

A kangaroo rat female can have up to 3 litters of 5 young each year, since their mating season lasts from February to October. There is a 31 day gestation period. Three days after birth, the young begin to crawl, at nine days, they can stand up, they become bipedal at 20 days, they are fully weened at 25 days, they reach sexual maturity at 32-56 days and are fully grown in 2.5-4 months.

ECOLOGY:

The Heermann kangaroo rat can be found in the grassland and woodland communities of central and northern California. Their diet changes seasonally, but consists mainly of seeds and vegetation of herbaceous plants and grasses.

animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu, the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology


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