Kha-nyou
The Laotian rock rat or kha-nyou (Laonastes aenigmamus, Lao: ຂະຍຸ), sometimes called the "rat-squirrel", is a species of rodent found in the Khammouan region of Laos. The species was first described in a 2005 article by Paulina Jenkins and coauthors, who considered the animal to be so distinct from all living rodents, they placed it in a new family, Laonastidae. It is in the monotypic genus Laonastes.
In 2006, the classification of the Laotian rock rat was disputed by Mary Dawson and coauthors. They suggested the rat belongs to the ancient fossil family Diatomyidae, which was thought to have been extinct for 11 million years, since the late Miocene. It would thereby represent a Lazarus species. The animals resemble large, dark rats with hairy, thick tails like those of a squirrel. Their skulls are very distinctive and have features that separate them from all other living mammals.
The Laotian rock rat, sometimes called the "rat-squirrel", is a species of rodent found in Laos. These animals look generally like rats, with thick, furred tails similar to a squirrel's, but limp. Their head is large, with round ears and a somewhat bulbous bridge of the nose, and very long whiskers. Their fur is dark slate grey, with a blackish tail. The belly is lighter, with a small, whitish area in the center. Their eyes are beady and black.
Laotian Rock rats are found in Khammouan Province and southern Bolikhamxai Province, Laos, and also in a small area of Minh Hóa District, western Quảng Bình Province, Vietnam. They live on hillsides in regions of sparsely vegetated karst limestone boulders.
Laotian rock rats are believed to be nocturnal creatures. They are quite docile and slow-moving over open ground. They walk with feet splayed outward in a gait described as duck-like. Although not ideal for mobility on open surfaces, this appears to be efficient when scrambling up and across large rocks. The sideways angle allows for greater surface area for their feet to find purchase on tilted or parallel surfaces.
Laotian rock rats are predominantly herbivores, eating leaves, grass, and seeds. They may eat insects, as well, but probably not in high abundance.
Female Laotian rock rats are presumed to give birth to a single young.
Laotian rock rats are not considered endangered at present. However, locally they suffer from habitat loss and are trapped by villagers for food.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Laotian rock rat total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
