The giant thicket rat (''Grammomys gigas'') is a species of
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...
in the family
Muridae
The Muridae, or murids, are either the largest or second-largest family of rodents and of mammals, containing approximately 870 species, including many species of mice, rats, and gerbils found naturally throughout Eurasia, Africa, and Australia.
...
which is restricted to a small area of
Kenya
Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...
.
Description
The giant thicket rat is a slender arboreal rat with large, ovoid ears with a rather long and fine coat.
It is very similar to ''
Grammomys ibeanus'' but has larger teeth, longer rear feet and a larger head. The head-body length is , tail length , the rear foot has a length of , the ear is long and skull .
Distribution
The giant thicket rat is endemic to Kenya, where it is restricted to the vicinity of
Mount Kenya
Mount Kenya (Meru people, Meru: ''Kĩrĩmaara,'' Kikuyu people, Kikuyu: ''Kĩrĩnyaga'', Kamba language, Kamba: ''Ki nyaa'', Embu language, Embu: ''Kĩ nyaga'') is an extinct volcano in Kenya and the Highest mountain peaks of Africa, second-highe ...
.
Habitat and ecology
The giant thicket rat is an arboreal species which is found in montane moist forest and high-elevation scrub. Species of the genus ''Grammomys'' feed on fruit, seeds and other plant matter, they occasionally eat arthropods.
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Conservation
The giant thicket rat is losing habitat due to the clearance of forest for timber, firewood and conversion to agricultural land. There is almost no data on how common the species is and, although there is no data on trends, it is thought that the population is decreasing. Much of the giant thicket rat's range lies within Mount Kenya National Park
Mount Kenya National Park is a national park in Kenya that was established in 1949 around Mount Kenya to protect its surrounding environment and wildlife. It is also a drainage basin for the region's water supply.
History
Initially, it was a for ...
but it is a priority to establish other protected areas for this species. The giant thicket rat is classified as endangered because its range is less than and is in a single locality where the habitat is being degraded. As this species is so little known the recommends that it needs further study to evaluate its status and ensure its conservation.[
]
References
{{Murinae (Oenomys–Pithecheir)
Endemic fauna of Kenya
Grammomys
Rodents of Africa
Mammals described in 1911
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot