Merriam's kangaroo rat is a rodent that is active at night in dry country. Its strong hind legs and long, tufted tail help it move in hops.
Dark stripes run along its sides, its hind legs are large, and its long tail ends in a tuft. External cheek pouches carry seeds.
It rests in an underground burrow by day, then comes out at night to gather seeds. It carries the seeds in external cheek pouches.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.