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Answer: The animal that never drinks water in its entire life is the Kangaroo Rat.
The Kangaroo Rat is a small rodent that lives in the deserts of North America, especially in places like California, Arizona, and Nevada. It looks a bit like a tiny kangaroo because of its strong hind legs and long tail. But it is not related to kangaroos at all!
Why Doesn’t It Drink Water?
You might be wondering, how can any animal survive without drinking water? The answer lies in adaptation. Kangaroo Rats are specially adapted to live in very dry, hot deserts where there is almost no water. So, over time, they developed a way to survive without drinking water at all.
Instead of drinking, Kangaroo Rats get all the water they need from the food they eat, especially dry seeds and grains. Inside their body, a chemical process called metabolism breaks down the food and produces water. This is called metabolic water. For example, when they digest carbohydrates in seeds, water is released during the process.
How Do They Save Water?
Kangaroo Rats are like desert survival experts. Here’s how they avoid losing water:
- They stay in burrows during the hot daytime to avoid heat and come out only at night (they are nocturnal).
- Their kidneys are highly efficient. They can produce very concentrated urine, which means they lose almost no water.
- Their feces (droppings) are also very dry, helping conserve even more water.
- They don’t sweat or pant like some other animals. This helps them avoid losing moisture from their bodies.
The Kangaroo Rat is a great example of physiological and behavioural adaptation. It shows us how life forms evolve and survive even in extreme conditions. This is a key concept in both evolution and environmental biology. Understanding animals like the Kangaroo Rat helps us learn how life survives in harsh environments and how nature always finds a way!
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