The Morro Bay kangaroo rat ranges in size from 250 to 313 mm in length, with the tail averaging 180 mm in length. This kangaroo rat, like all species of kangaroo rats, has long hind legs, small front legs and feet, brown upper parts, and a white belly. It is considered to be the darkest in color of all kangaroo rats. The lack of a complete hip stripe distinguishes this animal from other kangaroo rats. The hip stripe is conspicuously absent in this subspecies.

One group working to help breed kangaroo rats is The University of California, Berkeley. It has developed a successful captive-breeding program for kangaroo rats, using the Lompoc kangaroo rat as a surrogate for the Morro Bay kangaroo rat. Another group which is helping to preserve the habitat of the kangaroo rat is the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Refuge. The purpose of the refuge is to conserve the unique coastal dune and associated wetland habitats, and assist in the recovery of native plants and animals that are federally listed as endangered or threatened. Habitat communities on the refuge include beach habitat, fore dunes, coastal strand/active dunes, coastal dune scrub, central coastal sage scrub, arroyo willow riparian forest, ephemeral dune swale wetlands, and open wetlands. Abundant plant and animal life on the refuge include many rare, threatened, or endangered species.

On October 13, 1970, the Morro Bay kangaroo rat was designated as Endangered. The Endangered Morro Bay kangaroo rat apparently has declined in numbers by more than 80% in the past 20 years because of loss, fragmentation, and degradation of habitat.

Some topics in this essay:
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