kangaroo rat

noun

1. any of various small jumping rodents of the family Heteromyidae, of Mexico and the western U.S.
2. an Australian desert rodent of the genus Notomys.

kangaroo rat

noun

1. any small leaping rodent of the genus Dipodomys, related to the squirrels and inhabiting desert regions of North America, having a stocky body and very long hind legs and tails: family Heteromyidae
2. Also calledkangaroo mouse any of several leaping murine rodents of the Australian genus Notomys

Word History and Origins

Origin of kangaroo rat¹

First recorded in 1780–90

Example Sentences

In the Ord kangaroo rat, the bulk of the liver lies on the right side of the body cavity.

From Project Gutenberg

Accounts of these four mammals and of a previously unnamed subspecies of kangaroo rat on Mustang Island, Texas, follow.

From Project Gutenberg

The ground squirrel and kangaroo rat were found by us on only the sandy areas where there were xerophitic shrubs.

From Project Gutenberg

The only animal that we saw during our excursion was a small kangaroo-rat; it was skipping about the rocks near the sea.

From Project Gutenberg

And why stop at the kangaroo-rat—the first mammal to bring forth its young alive?

From Project Gutenberg