Kangaroo rats can drink sea water
Kangaroo rats are small rodents native to North America. The name derives from the fact that they hop like tiny kangaroos; however, the two species are only very distantly related, as kangaroos are marsupials — not rodents.
There are over 20 species of kangaroo rat with sizes varying from 4” to 8” (100 to 200 mm), and tails of equal or slightly greater length. Kangaroo rats, as their name suggests, have highly developed hind legs. They live in deserts and dig deep burrows to shelter them from the worst of the desert heat, and they rarely drink water.
Instead, they have a highly water-efficient metabolism (their kidneys are at least four times more efficient at retaining water and excreting salt than those of humans). Kangaroo rats manufacture water through a metabolic process called oxidative [ox-eh-day-tive] phosphorylation [foez-for-eh-lay-shun]. Because of the efficiency of the kangaroo rat’s kidneys, they can produce urine that is up to five times more concentrated then human urine. Because of this, kangaroo rats rarely have to drink and can even drink sea water without becoming ill. The water produced within their cells while they metabolize their food is usually sufficient for their water needs.
