Head to head
Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat vs Ord's Kangaroo Rat
Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat
VS Ord's Kangaroo Rat
Both are desert kangaroo rats that hop on long hind legs and live on dry seeds, yet the banner-tailed kangaroo rat advertises itself with mounds and drumming while Ord's kangaroo rat is known for never needing to drink.
| Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat | Ord's Kangaroo Rat | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Dipodomys spectabilis | Dipodomys ordii |
| Range | Desert grassland in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, including the Chihuahuan Desert | Desert and grassland across a broad range spanning western North America |
| Locomotion | Bounding hops on long hind legs, balanced by its tail | Hops bipedally on long hind legs for quick bursts and sharp turns |
| Burrow | Large dirt mound piled over a burrow system, where seeds are stored | Underground burrows used for shelter by day |
| Communication | Thumps its hind feet in rhythmic patterns, which can signal to other kangaroo rats and may warn of danger | Not specifically documented |
| Water | Needs little or no free water and gets most of its moisture from seeds | Can survive its whole life without drinking, getting all its moisture from dry seeds |
| Cheek pouches | Collects seeds and grasses in cheek pouches | External, fur-lined cheek pouches carry seeds to burrows, where surplus is cached |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though it can disappear where grassland becomes overgrown or degraded | Least Concern, widespread across suitable habitat |
Banner-tailed Kangaroo Rat vs Ord's Kangaroo Rat: common questions
Why is it called banner-tailed?
The banner-tailed kangaroo rat has a long tail with a white tip, which gave the species its name.
Which kangaroo rat never needs to drink?
Ord's kangaroo rat can survive its entire life without drinking, extracting all the moisture it needs from dry seeds, while the banner-tailed kangaroo rat needs little or no free water.
Where do the banner-tailed and Ord's kangaroo rats live?
The banner-tailed kangaroo rat lives in desert grassland in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, while Ord's kangaroo rat ranges across desert and grassland in western North America.