Kangaroo rat | Santosh Ray

Look who is jumping with excitement for #LeapDay ! Ord’s Kangaroo Rat is one of the smallest mammals in the park, but has big adaptations to help it survive in the harsh climates of the sand dunes. The kangaroo rat is known to jump between 6-9 feet with large hip feet that even have an extra toe. These extra toes help to keep the rats on top of the sand rather than digging in while they are jumping. With little water on the surface of the dunes year-round, the kangaroo rat has also adapted to ge