African giant pouched rat
The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) is a species of pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys. It is among the largest muroids in the world, growing to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long, including the tail, which makes up half of its total length. The name of the species comes from the large, hamster-like pouches in their cheeks.
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NocturnalNocturnality is an animal behavior characterized by being active during the night and sleeping during the day. The common adjective is "nocturnal",...
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OmnivoreAn omnivore is an animal that has the ability to eat and survive on both plant and animal matter. Obtaining energy and nutrients from plant and ani...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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CursorialA cursorial organism is one that is adapted specifically to run. An animal can be considered cursorial if it has the ability to run fast (e.g. chee...
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AltricialAltricial animals are those species whose newly hatched or born young are relatively immobile. They lack hair or down, are not able to obtain food ...
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TorporTorpor is a state of decreased physiological activity in an animal, usually marked by a reduced body temperature and metabolic rate. Torpor enables...
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ZoochoryZoochory animals are those that can disperse plant seeds in several ways. Seeds can be transported on the outside of vertebrate animals (mostly mam...
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TerritorialA territory is a sociographical area that which an animal consistently defends against the conspecific competition (or, occasionally, against anima...
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ViviparousAmong animals, viviparity is the development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. The term 'viviparity' and its adjective form 'viviparous'...
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BurrowingA burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to create a space suitable for habitation, temporary refuge, or as a byproduct ...
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MonogamyMonogamy is a form of relationship in which both the male and the female has only one partner. This pair may cohabitate in an area or territory for...
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ColonialColonial animals live in large aggregations composed of two or more conspecific individuals in close association with or connected to, one another....
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe Gambian pouched rat has very poor eyesight, so it depends on its senses of smell and hearing. It is not a true rat, but is part of an African branch of muroid rodents.
Gambian pouched rats are found in Sub-Saharan Africa, ranging geographically from Senegal to Kenya and from Angola to Mozambique. They inhabit forest and woodland, thickets, as well as farmland, cropland, plantations, and rural areas. They are also common in termite mounds.
Gambian pouched rats are social animals that live in colonies of up to 20 individuals. Unlike domestic rats, these rats have cheek pouches like a hamster. These cheek pouches allow them to gather up several kilograms of nuts per night for storage underground. They have been known to stuff their pouches so full of date palm nuts as to be hardly able to squeeze through the entrance of their burrow. The burrow consists of a long passage with side alleys and several chambers, one for sleeping and the others for storage. Gambian pouched rats are nocturnal coming out of their shelters at night to forage. They are very good climbers and swimmers and adapt rapidly to new situations, such as captivity.
Gambian pouched rats are omnivorous creatures. They feed on vegetables, insects, crabs, snails, and other items, but also prefer palm fruits and palm kernels.
Gambian pouched rats are monogamous which means that males and females have only one partner during a breeding season. They breed usually in the summer. Females have up to 4 litters every nine months, with up to 6 offspring in each litter. The gestation period lasts around 30-32 days. Young are born hairless, with eyes and ears closed. Females provide the most parental care nursing their young until they are 28 old. Males don't take part in raising the offspring and sometimes may kill and eat their young. Gambian pouched rats reach reproductive maturity at 5-7 months of age.
There are no major threats to Gambian pouched rats. They are used in medical research and are hunted for food throughout their range. However, this species is so abundant that it is not considered to be a major threat. Gambian pouched rats have been also recorded in the European pet trade and they are considered a pest in some areas.
According to IUCN, the Gambian pouched rat is very abundant throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today remain stable.
Social animals are those animals that interact highly with other animals, usually of their own species (conspecifics), to the point of having a rec...