Sam Markowitz, age 9, of. North Las Vegas, Nev., for his question:

WHY IS IT CALLED A KANGAROO RAT?

A kangaroo rat is a tiny rodent that is related to squirrels, mice and rats. It received its name because it can jump around like a kangaroo on long, powerful hind legs.

Kangaroo rats grow to be about 15 inches long, including a tail that is eight or 10 inches long. They have short front legs, large heads and big eyes.

You'll find kangaroo rats living on the deserts of the southwestern United States. They nest in tunnels and come out at night to gather plant food.

They use their small front feet to stuff food into fur lined pouches on the outside of their cheeks. They then carry the food back to their nests. Kangaroo rats do not need to drink water. They use the water that is produced when food inside them combines with the oxygen they breathe.