kangaroo rat

American  

noun

1. any of various small jumping rodents of the family Heteromyidae, of Mexico and the western U.S.

2. an Australian desert rodent of the genus Notomys.

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kangaroo rat British  

noun

1. any small leaping rodent of the genus Dipodomys, related to the squirrels and inhabiting desert regions of North America, having a stocky body and very long hind legs and tails: family Heteromyidae

2. Also called: kangaroo mouse.  any of several leaping murine rodents of the Australian genus Notomys

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Etymology

Origin of kangaroo rat

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

A habitat conservation plan hammered out a decade ago to ensure the survival of the kangaroo rat population has become a source of pride for the water conservation district.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2022

That said, we were standing on a newly created refuge, the 27,000-acre Panoche Valley Nature Preserve, with kit fox dens and kangaroo rat burrow complexes in sight on all sides.

From National Geographic • Jan. 6, 2021

A sidewinder waits for its dinner: It sits in ambush until a kangaroo rat happens to come hopping by, and then it has a banquet.

From New York Times • May 17, 2017

Here are two recordings from Jan Randall, one of footrolls among banner-tailed kangaroo rat individuals, and the other of giant kangaroo rats: Namib desert golden mole Eremitalpa granti namibensis: Is just really frikkin’ cute.

From Scientific American • Mar. 22, 2011

But the cameras revealed no sign of canal builders, no Barsoomian air- cars or short swords, no princesses or fighting men, no thoats, no footprints, not even a cactus or a kangaroo rat.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan