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Kangaroo rats (genus Dipodomys) are a group of burrowing North American rodents specialized for seed-eating. They are named for their hopping locomotion and have large hind feet, long tails, and short front limbs used mainly for gathering seeds, which are carried in fur-lined external cheek pouches. All kangaroo rats closely resemble each other (check the links below), although they vary by about 4-fold in size. This species, Stephens' kangaroo rat, lives only in western Riverside County, California and a few adjacent areas. It is a Federally-listed endangered species, because its favorite habitat -- grasslands -- is also the favorite habitat of housing developments. Several other California K-rats are also endangered because of habitat loss. Listing of this species was highly controversial because it brought development to a halt until a species recovery plan could be designed. Many people were offended that 'a rat' was being federally protected, but it is a much more interesting and attractive animal than a standard rat. I photographed these on warm summer evenings at the University of California's Motte Rimrock Reserve, one of the few strongholds of Stephen's kangaroo rat. Other species pictured on this site include:
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