We know that all plants and animals need water for their survival. But it’s quite the nature of nature to make everything have an exception. In this case too, there is one creature which does not drink water in its entire life. It is called ‘kangaroo rat’, a species of tiny rodents found in the South Western deserts of the United States.
Due to this, they are often eaten by other animals for the water in their bodies! These rats can run very fast, covering 6 meters in one second, to avoid their enemies. They use their long tails as rudders (broad flat piece of wood) when jumping and can even change their course in mid-air. They leap with such an accuracy that they can jump over a cactus and land on top of their prey.
Because of their long, powerful legs and the strong tail which resemble those of the kangaroo, they are called the kangaroo rats. The rats can run very fast, covering 6 meters in one second, Because of their long powerful legs and the strong tail which resembles those of a kangaroo, they are called the kangaroo rats. They grow to about 38 cm long, including a tail of 20cm. Their silky fur is yellow or brown on the upper parts and white on the lower parts.
How does the kangaroo rat survive without water? The physiological structure of desert plants and animals is such that they need very little water to survive. So efficient are the kidneys of the Kangaroo rat that it never has to drink water. All the liquid it needs is extracted from the plants, roots and seeds it eats. Yet it is enough to keep the kangaroo rat alive. It lives near bushes by making holes in the ground. These Kangaroo rats have incredibly efficient kidneys and are really good at holding on to water. The amazing thing about these creatures is that they have stepped up their game and actually make their own water. Technically, if you burn carbohydrates, you get carbon dioxide and water as waste products. Now, if you do this "burning" process in a living being, you can actually recover some of this water. This is exactly what a kangaroo rat does.
The kangaroo rat’s legs are proportionately very long as compared with other parts of the body. When two kangaroo rats fight, it appears as though they were fighting with sticks.
As long as they have dry food to eat they never have to drink. Freshwater fish don't actively drink water, but they do of course absorb water through their skin and gills.