Behavioral Adaptations

 

 

 

 

 

Picture of Dipodomys nitratoides nitratoides - Tipton Kangaroo Rat, courtesy of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Photo Source

Kangaroo rats have developed the unique ability to survive without any intake of water. These animals have developed highly specialized anatomical, physiological, and behavioral adaptations that allow them to survive in arid environments solely on water produced by metabolic processes. Kangaroo rats provide a fascinating look into the many factors involved in osmoregulation in mammals, and help us to better understand the processes involved in water conservation.