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Litter Size

How many babies does a Texas kangaroo rat have at once? (litter size)

How many baby Texas kangaroo rats are in a litter?

A Texas kangaroo rat (Dipodomys elator) usually gives birth to around 2 babies.

Upon birth, they weight 4 grams (0.01 lbs) and measure 27.5 cm (0′ 11″). They are a member of the Heteromyidae family (genus: Dipodomys). An adult Texas kangaroo rat grows up to a size of 11.9 cm (0′ 5″).

To have a reference: Humans obviously usually have a litter size of one ;). Their babies are in the womb of their mother for 280 days (40 weeks) and reach an average size of 1.65m (5′ 5″). They weight in at 62 kg (137 lbs), which is obviously highly individual, and reach an average age of 75 years.

The Texas kangaroo rat (Dipodomys elator) is a rodent of the family Heteromyidae. It is endemic to Texas where it often lives in association with brush species like mesquite and lotebush growing in areas with firm clay-loam soils. It is a relatively large kangaroo rat that ranges in size from approximately 60 grams to 95 or more. Males and females of this species are sexually dimorphic, males being larger than females. Its distribution is within north-central Texas and it is only found within 13 counties. It was formerly found in Oklahoma, but is thought to have since been extirpated. The species is listed as threatened by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the IUCN lists the species as vulnerable.At one time, many thought that Texas kangaroo rats were associated with brush, especially mesquite. Recent investigations indicate that lotebush is also important and the rat may not even need brush. Burrows are not always associated with brush species and can occur on small prairie mounds. They also opportunistically use loose, friable soil that accumulates along fence lines and pasture roads. [3] [4]The rat has been shown in a study that analyzed cheek pouch contents of several individuals to eat leaves of grasses and some perennials, stems, and seeds. In this one study area near fields that contained Johnson grass and cultivated oats, seeds from these plants were found to make up the largest part of their diet. Breeding has not been studied extensively but generally they have a promiscuous mating system, mature early, mate all year with peaks in spring and summer, and have about 3 young per brood.One of the largest threats that this organism faces is habitat loss and degradation due to agriculture within Texas. Monocultures like wheat fields are a large issue and under- or overgrazing rangelands can be a problem when range plants become too dense or to many cattle eat the plants that they feed on during instances of overgrazing. However, if grazing occurs properly, the rodents benefit. Proper grazing helps create amounts of bare ground needed for dust bathing, movement, seed caching, and burrow sites. [3] [4] This is an area that should be researched more in order to better understand their habitat selection and the effect that these land-use practices have on the organism.

Other animals of the family Heteromyidae

Texas kangaroo rat is a member of the Heteromyidae, as are these animals:

Animals that share a litter size with Texas kangaroo rat

Those animals also give birth to 2 babies at once:

Animals with the same weight as a Texas kangaroo rat

What other animals weight around 106 grams (0.23 lbs)?

Animals with the same size as a Texas kangaroo rat

Also reaching around 11.9 cm (0′ 5″) in size do these animals: