LC Herbivore Deserts
35–150 g
Weight
2–5 yrs
Lifespan
16 km/h
Top Speed
North America
Found In
At just 35–150 g, the Kangaroo Rat is one of the lightest herbivore mammals (#49 of 50). Found in North America, it inhabits deserts habitats.
Documented in 4 U.S. National Parks
The Kangaroo Rat has 10 field records across 4 parks in the National Park Service biodiversity database, listed as native in 10 records.
| Park | Nativeness | Abundance | T&E Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bryce Canyon National Park | Native | Unknown | — |
| Grand Canyon National Park | Native | Uncommon | — |
| Grand Canyon National Park | Native | Uncommon | — |
| Grand Canyon National Park | Native | Uncommon | — |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Native | Common | — |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Native | Rare | — |
| Joshua Tree National Park | Native | Uncommon | — |
| Zion National Park | Native | NA | — |
| Zion National Park | Native | Uncommon | — |
| Zion National Park | Native | Uncommon | — |
Abundance Distribution
Size, Speed & Lifespan
| Metric | Kangaroo Rat | Herbivore Mammals Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 0.1 kg | 117.3 kg | ↓ 100% |
| Height | 11 cm | — | — |
| Top Speed | 16 km/h | 40 km/h | ↓ 60% |
| Avg Speed | 16 km/h | — | — |
| Lifespan | 3.5 yrs | 22.5 yrs | ↓ 84% |
Endemic to North America
Habitat: Deserts
Found In: North America
Coloration: Brown, Gray
Behavior
Natural Predators
Social Structure
Recorded as Solitary.
Reproduction & Lifespan
Gestation Period: 22–24 days
Offspring per Birth: 2-5
Lifespan: 2–5 years
Population & Outlook
LC Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List — one of 66 species in this database with the same status.
Weight Rank Among Least Concern Species
Ranked #55 of 66 by typical adult weight.
| # | Species | Weight | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Glass Frog | Up to 0.03 g | LC |
| 54 | Hummingbird | 2–20 g | LC |
| 55 | Kangaroo Rat | 35–150 g | LC |
| 56 | Lyrebird | 0.85–1.1 kg | LC |
| 57 | Meerkat | 0.6–1 kg | LC |
| 58 | Naked Mole Rat | Up to 80 g | LC |