What is the primary purpose of the kangaroo rat's rapid leg extension during a rattlesnake encounter?
Answer
To create space and time to initiate an evasive jump
The rapid leg extension acts as a propulsive distraction, intended to create the necessary spatial separation and time required for the rat to execute an evasive jump away from the strike zone.
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Aggressive Nightlife of the Kangaroo Rat | Attenborough | BBC Earth
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