How big does a Merriam’s kangaroo rat get? Here is an overview over the average adult age:
A grown Merriam’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) reaches an average size of 4.9 cm (0′ 2″).
When born, they have an average size of 0 cm (0′ 0″). During their lifetime of about 2 years, they grow from 3 grams (0.01 lbs) to 37 grams (0.08 lbs). Talking about reproduction, Merriam’s kangaroo rats have 2 babies about 1 times per year. The Merriam’s kangaroo rat (genus: Dipodomys) is a member of the family Heteromyidae.
As a reference: Humans reach an average body size of 1.65m (5′ 5″) while carrying 62 kg (137 lbs). A human woman is pregnant for 280 days (40 weeks) and on average become 75 years old.
Merriam’s kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami) is a species of rodent in the family Heteromyidae. The species name commemorates Clinton Hart Merriam.
Animals of the same family as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat
We found other animals of the Heteromyidae family:
- Big-eared kangaroo rat with a size of 12.7 cm (0′ 5″)
- Giant kangaroo rat with a size of 14.8 cm (0′ 6″)
- Panamanian spiny pocket mouse with a size of 12.5 cm (0′ 5″)
- Long-tailed pocket mouse with a size of 9.7 cm (0′ 4″)
- Texas kangaroo rat with a size of 11.9 cm (0′ 5″)
- Great Basin pocket mouse with a size of 8.1 cm (0′ 4″)
- Desert kangaroo rat with a size of 13.8 cm (0′ 6″)
- Plains pocket mouse with a size of 6.9 cm (0′ 3″)
- Little desert pocket mouse with a size of 6.8 cm (0′ 3″)
- Nelson’s pocket mouse with a size of 7.9 cm (0′ 4″)
Animals with the same size as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat
Not that size really matters, but it makes things comparable. So here are a couple of animals that are as big as Merriam’s kangaroo rat:
- Townsend’s big-eared bat with a size of 5.7 cm (0′ 3″)
- Merriam’s pocket mouse with a size of 5.8 cm (0′ 3″)
- Preble’s shrew with a size of 5.3 cm (0′ 3″)
- Southeastern shrew with a size of 5.1 cm (0′ 3″)
- Tailed tailless bat with a size of 5.8 cm (0′ 3″)
- Ash-colored Oldfield mouse with a size of 5.7 cm (0′ 3″)
- Daubenton’s bat with a size of 4.4 cm (0′ 2″)
- Kuhl’s pipistrelle with a size of 4.5 cm (0′ 2″)
- Pacific sheath-tailed bat with a size of 4.7 cm (0′ 2″)
- Fat mouse with a size of 5.8 cm (0′ 3″)
Animals with the same litter size as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat
Here is a list of animals that have the same number of babies per litter (2) as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat:
- Gambian sun squirrel
- Lesser bilby
- Afghan vole
- Djoongari
- Zempoaltepec
- Sandy inland mouse
- Mountain degu
- Fennec fox
- Striped polecat
- Binturong
Animals with the same life expectancy as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat
Completely different animals, but becoming as old as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat:
- Hoary bat with an average maximal age of 2.08 years
- White-eared opossum with an average maximal age of 1.67 years
- Common shrew with an average maximal age of 2 years
- Silky anteater with an average maximal age of 2.25 years
- Laxmann’s shrew with an average maximal age of 2 years
- Tundra vole with an average maximal age of 1.75 years
- Campbell’s dwarf hamster with an average maximal age of 1.75 years
- Slender-tailed dunnart with an average maximal age of 2 years
- Panamanian spiny pocket mouse with an average maximal age of 1.75 years
- Bennett’s chinchilla rat with an average maximal age of 2.25 years
Animals with the same weight as a Merriam’s kangaroo rat
As a comparison, here are some other animals that weight as much as the Dipodomys merriami:
- North African elephant shrew bringing 43 grams to the scale
- Smith’s vole bringing 34 grams to the scale
- Goldman’s water mouse bringing 38 grams to the scale
- Verreaux’s mouse bringing 41 grams to the scale
- El Carrizo deer mouse bringing 40 grams to the scale
- Djoongari bringing 39 grams to the scale
- Woodford’s fruit bat bringing 36 grams to the scale
- African giant shrew bringing 33 grams to the scale
- Mole-like rice tenrec bringing 39 grams to the scale
- Southwestern myotis bringing 38 grams to the scale