What Are Rat Kangaroos?

Rat kangaroo, any of the 11 living species of Australian and Tasmanian marsupials constituting the families Potoroidae and Hypsiprymnodontidae, related to the kangaroo family, Macropodidae. The four species of short-nosed rat kangaroos, or bettongs (genus Bettongia), have pinkish noses and short ears. ...

Are rats related to kangaroos?

Their closest living relatives are kangaroo mice and pocket mice, both of which are also heteromyids. Pocket gophers (family Geomyidae) are related to the family Heteromyidae. The kangaroo rat's evolutionary history began during the Late Miocene Epoch (11.2 million to 5.3 million years ago) in North America.

Is the musky rat kangaroo A kangaroo?

Musky rat kangaroos are different from other rat-kangaroos in that they are primarily insectivorous. They also eat worms, tuberous roots and palm berries. The animal sits on its haunches while eating and finds food by turning over debris and digging.