also: カンガルーねずみ
kangaroo rat
Refers specifically to rodents of the genus Dipodomys, native to North America. Not to be confused with Australian marsupial kangaroos.
Kangaroo rats live in the deserts of North America.
Kangaroo rats jump using their long hind legs.
Kanji spelling using 鼠 for 'rat'; rarely used in modern contexts.
From English 'kangaroo rat', a calque describing the rodent's jumping locomotion.