How does the desert kangaroo rat (Dipodomys) of North American deserts survive indefinitely without drinking liquid water?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Internal metabolic water from fat oxidation and excreting concentrated solid urine
- Step 1: In arid habitats with no surface water, the kangaroo rat exhibits extreme physiological adaptations.
- Step 2: It derives 90% of its required water internally from metabolic water produced during the cellular -oxidation of dietary fats ().
- Step 3: Its kidneys possess exceptionally long loops of Henle that generate hyperosmolar medullary gradients, allowing it to excrete solid-like, highly concentrated urine, while also minimizing respiratory evaporative water loss.
Answer
It meets its entire water requirement through internal metabolic water derived from fat oxidation and concentrates its urine to minimize water loss
Why not the others: 'It absorbs atmospheric water vapor...' is a physiological mechanism found in certain desert beetles (Stenocara), not mammals; 'It stores large volumes of liquid water...' is false; the kangaroo rat does not store free water; 'It feeds exclusively on poisonous desert scorpions...' is factually incorrect as it is a granivore feeding primarily on dry seeds.
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