Life History of the Kangaroo RatVorhies, Charles Taylor
Science
Life History of the Kangaroo Rat
Vorhies, Charles Taylor
Kangaroo rats
Certain peculiar physical characteristics suggest a relationship to
sense reactions. On these, however, the authors are not prepared to do
more than offer suggestions for future work. The extremely large
mastoids found in kangaroo rats suggest a connection in some way with
special developments of the sense of hearing or of balance. It may be
noted that an intermediate condition between the kangaroo rats and the
majority of rodents in respect to this character is to be found in the
pocket mice (_Perognathus_), which belong to the same family. Herein
lies a field for some interesting experimentation and discovery.
The small, pointed nose might suggest a not overkeen sense of smell, and
there appears no reason to believe that this sense is particularly well
developed. However, the turbinals are very complex. The vibrissae are
long and sensitive, and may indicate a special development of the sense
of touch as an adaptation to nocturnal habits and to life in an
underground labyrinth. The long, well-haired tail doubtless serves as an
important tactile organ as well as a balance.
MOVEMENTS AND ATTITUDES.
Movements and attitudes are characteristic. As a kangaroo rat emerges
from the burrow a reason for the relatively large size of the opening is
seen in the fact that, kangaroolike, the animal maintains a partially
upright position. Its ordinary mode of progression is hopping along on
the large hind legs, or, when in the open and going at speed, leaping.
When moving slowly about over the mound, as if searching for food, it
uses the fore legs in a kind of creeping movement. It appears to be
creeping when pocketing grain strewn about, but close observation shows
that the fore feet are then used for sweeping material into the pockets,
reminding one somewhat of a vacuum cleaner. When it assumes a partially
upright position the fore limbs are usually drawn up so closely that
they can be seen only by looking upward from a somewhat lower level than
that occupied by the animal. The slower movements of searching or
playing about the mound are occasionally interrupted by a sudden leap
directly upward to a height of 1-1/2 to 2 feet, often with no apparent
reason other than play. This is, however, a fighting or guarding
movement, though indulged in for play. The play instinct seems to be
well developed, and in evidence on any moonlight night when actual
harvesting operations are not going on.
STORING HABITS.
Probably no instinct is of greater importance to the kangaroo rat than
that of storing food supplies. When a crop of desirable seeds is
maturing the animal's activities appear to be concentrated on this work.
During September, 1919, when a good crop of grass seed was ripening
following the summer rains, a kangaroo rat under observation made
repeated round trips to the harvest field of grass heads. Each outward
trip occupied from 1 to 1-1/2 minutes, while the unloading trip into the
burrow took only 15 to 20 seconds.
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