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The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also commonly known as the African giant pouched rat, is a species of nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, in the family Nesomyidae. 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 ...
Giant pouched rats are only distantly related to the true rats, although until recently they had been placed in the same family, Muridae. [1] Recent molecular studies, however, place them in the family Nesomyidae, part of an ancient radiation of African and Malagasy muroids. The name "pouched rat" refers to their large cheek pouches. The ...
Pouched rats are found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa with the exception of southern Africa. They are characterized by having large cheek pouches and a distinctive molar morphology. The molars are very similar to the type seen in the subfamily Murinae, but pouched rats probably evolved this similarity through convergent evolution.
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Non-profit APOPO says it has trained rats to sniff out elephant tusks, rhino horns, pangolin scales and other wildlife products that are trafficked out of Africa.
The southern giant pouched rat is a large rodent, with males larger than females. Adult males typically weigh 1.5 to 2.0 kg (3.3 to 4.4 lb), while females weigh 1.2 to 1.6 kg (2.6 to 3.5 lb). The pouches for which these rats are named consist of oversized cheek-pouches.
These pouched rats are named for having cheek pouches much like a hamster. Emin's pouched rat and the Gambian pouched rat have a few very noticeable physical differences: Emin's pouched rats have a distinct line of color difference between their lower abdomen area and upper body.
Despite having first been recorded by Captain Cook in the late 1790s, the first emperor penguin colony wasn’t discovered until 1902. Because they dwell in such extreme southern climes that are ...