With big bright eyes and soft fur, the Texas Kangaroo Rat is a truly adorable animal. Sadly, these little rodents are disappearing, due to the loss of their habitats and a number of other factors.

Usually, Texas Kangaroo Rats can be found in burrows that they carve out of sandy soil. They prefer to build their burrows near the bases of small mesquite trees, and often the root of one of these trees will form part of the burrow's entrance. The Texas Kangaroo Rat is strictly nocturnal. In the wild, these animals usually do not emerge from their burrows until the night is pitch black, and when there is a full or bright moon, sometimes they will not come out at all! They eat grass, stems and leaves of forbs, as well as some other perennials, and love seeds and grains.

The Texas Kangaroo Rat usually has a white tuft of fur, often called a banner, at the tip of its tail! The tail is more than one and a half times the body length of the animal, usually, and is quite thick. Texas Kangaroo Rats can grow to about (121 millimeters) long, excluding their tails. Generally, they have buff coloring on their fur except for their undersides, which are more whitish. The hairs on the upper sides of their bodies often have dark or black tones in parts. Each foot has four toes.

In the area where they live, Texas Kangaroo Rats are listed as threatened. These rodents are found only in a few counties in northeast Texas in the United States of America. Because of the destruction of their habitat, Texas Kangaroo Rats' numbers are dwindling. Other threats to these little rodents include snakes, owls, coyotes, and bobcats.

Because they are nocturnal, Texas Kangaroo Rats should have lots of dark hiding places and bright lights should not be directed toward them.

Although Texas Kangaroo Rats probably breed year round, breeding activity is generally most notable in the spring and fall. Generally, three babies are born.