Life History of the Kangaroo Rat

A detailed natural-history account examines the banner-tailed kangaroo rat, presenting identification characters, measurements, coloration, and habitat distribution. Field and laboratory observations describe nocturnal activity patterns, signaling and vocal behaviors, locomotion, sensory development, and aspects of sociability and pugnacity. The study details food habits, seed and vegetation-gathering and storage behavior, and the architecture of burrow systems with mounds, runways, and subsidiary openings. It also catalogs parasites, commensal organisms, predators, seasonal fluctuations in abundance, and the methods used to study populations. Economic considerations and practical recommendations for managing local populations complete the ecological synthesis.