The kanga-rat[a][b] is a species in Jak 3. Its name is a portmanteau of kangaroo and rat, though they appear to be entirely reptilian. They are considered pests in the Wasteland city of Spargus, raiding store rooms and feeding on the local produce. Kleiver once tasked Jak and Daxter with hunting them down on a leaper lizard, which feeds on kanga-rats, in the mission "Catch kanga-rats".[4] The duo afterwards earned Kleiver's goodwill, who said that perhaps his food stores would last longer.[5] They are not seen or mentioned after the mission.[b]
Appearance[]
Jak chasing a kanga-rat on a leaper lizard.
Kanga-rats are very small and nimble, resembling reptiles more than either eponymous species.[a] They have smooth orange skin, a scaly yellow underbelly, sharp black talons, and a black dorsal crest from the top of the skull to the end of the tail. They have a small head with beady black eyes, and small but sharp teeth. Their build is that of a small theropod, with large, powerful hind legs, and small forelegs—this is perhaps their only resemblance to kangaroos.
Ecology[]
Concept art for the kanga-rat.
Kanga-rats appear to be indigenous to the Wasteland, though they are only seen within Spargus' walls. They represent Spargus' domestic fauna alongside the tizard, dogat, and leaper lizard (their natural predator), each to which they bear some resemblance or relation (i.e. reptilian appearance, status as a pest or rodent, and theropod build).
Behavior[]
Upon initial approach, kanga-rats can be seen digging at the dirt or food with their forelegs. After they detect Jak's presence, they will bolt at a speed meeting or exceeding that of the leaper, leaving a dust cloud trailing behind and making a distinctive rat-like squeak. The kanga-rat can be exterminated with a leaper's forward charge, at which point the leaper will gulp it down. This was nearly Daxter's fate, as the leaper presumably mistook him for a kanga-rat due to his small size and orange fur.[6]
Notes[]
- Annotations
- Citations
- ↑ Jak 3, file:
WCB/kanga-lizard-ag.go - ↑ Jak 3, "Catch Kanga-Lizards" (July 2004 prototype)
- ↑ The Lost Frontier script § "Choices"
- ↑ Jak 3 script § "Jak Meets Kleiver"
- ↑ Jak 3 script § "Catch kanga-rats (gameplay)"
- ↑ Jak 3 script § "Daxter Becomes Dinner"
References[]
- Naughty Dog (2004). Jak 3 [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation 2.
- High Impact Games (2009). Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier [Game]. Sony Computer Entertainment. PlayStation Portable.