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Desert kangaroo rats are denizens of desert areas with sandy soil; vegetation is typically sparse and consists of creosote bush, a variety of grasses, and cacti. [8] Desert kangaroo rats live in burrow systems under slight mounds of soil 6-9m across; [8] they sleep in a den, which is sealed off at extreme temperatures, during the day. [4]
The most common way that fat sand rats acquire water in the desert environment is by ingesting plants such as Atriplex halimus, which are high in water content and provide the rodent with preformed water when they are consumed. [10] As a result of this strategy, fat sand rats do not need to drink free-standing water. [11]
Kangaroo rats also live in colonies that range from six to several hundred dens. [10] The burrow of a kangaroo rat is important in providing protection from the harsh desert environment. To maintain a constant temperature and relative humidity in their burrows, kangaroo rats plug the entrances with soil during the day. [4]
Various aged naked mole-rats. The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber), also known as the sand puppy, [6] is a burrowing rodent native to the Horn of Africa and parts of Kenya, notably in Somali regions. It is closely related to the blesmols and is the only species in the genus Heterocephalus. [7]
Territory is marked by four to seven soil mounds marking plugged entrances (20 to 40 cm high and 50 to 80 cm across). Burrows are 20 to 30 cm deep and up to 45 m long. Escape tunnels are always at the ready, loosely plugged with soil. The nest chamber is 20 to 25 cm across and is lined with bamboo leaves.
This species shows signs of localization due to soil requirements. The pattern of burrowing systems for common mole-rats optimizes their access to food, especially geophytes. [5] Burrowing has a negative economic impact in that it damages human property but it is also positive in that it improves soil drainage and turnover. [4]
Observations of a newly constructed tunnel system showed that a mound 3 m (10 ft) in diameter and 40 cm (16 in) high was created in about two years and that each burrow system is occupied by a single kangaroo rat. [4] The silky pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus) sometimes shares a burrow with the banner-tailed kangaroo rat. [5]
Heteromyidae is a family of rodents consisting of kangaroo rats, kangaroo mice, pocket mice and spiny pocket mice.Most heteromyids live in complex burrows within the deserts and grasslands of western North America, though species within the genus Heteromys are also found in forests and their range extends as far south as northern South America.