The nocturnal desert rodent that can leap nearly 3 meters using its powerful hind legs is the kangaroo rat.
Kangaroo rats are members of the rodent family Heteromyidae and are native to the dry regions of North America. Their oversized hind legs and long feet let them bound rapidly across sandy or rocky ground, sometimes covering about 2.75 meters in a single leap. The jumps help them escape predators such as owls, snakes, and foxes.
Despite living in deserts, kangaroo rats rarely drink water. They obtain moisture from seeds and conserve water through highly efficient kidneys and dry feces. Specialized external cheek pouches let them gather seeds without moistening them, allowing stored food to remain dry inside their burrows.
The name comes from their kangaroo-like posture and bipedal hopping, not from any close relationship to kangaroos. Pack rats are also desert rodents, but they have different body shapes and nesting habits. Jerboas can make impressive leaps too, but they are Old World rodents rather than the North American kangaroo rat.