Large bamboo rat

Species of rodent

Large bamboo rat
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Spalacidae
Genus: Rhizomys
Species:
R. sumatrensis
Binomial name
Rhizomys sumatrensis
(Raffles, 1821)
Female R. s. erythrogenys

The large bamboo rat, Sumatran rat, or Indomalayan rat (Rhizomys sumatrensis) is a species of rodent in the family Spalacidae found in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is one of four species of bamboo rat. Individuals can reach lengths of nearly 50 cm (20 in) with a 20 cm (7.9 in) tail, and weigh up to 4 kilograms (8.8 lb).

Their typical diet includes bamboo roots, but they also feed on cultivated tapioca and sugarcane. They are, in turn, hunted as food by human beings.[1]

The species is a natural host for the disease-causing mold, Penicillium marneffei.[2][3]

It is one of several species of large rats that have been identified by scholars of Sherlockiana as the original model for the mysterious Giant Rat of Sumatra alluded to in a fictional story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.[4][better source needed]

References

Wikispecies has information related to Rhizomys sumatrensis.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhizomys sumatrensis.
  1. ^ Aplin, K. "Rhizomys sumatrensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 10 April 2013.{{cite iucn}}: old-form url (help)
  2. ^ Common Reservoirs for Penicillium marneffei Infection in Humans and Rodents, China
  3. ^ Ajello, L; Padhye, AA; Sukroongreung, S; Nilakul, CH; Tantimavanic, S (1995). "Occurrence of Penicillium marneffei infections among wild bamboo rats in Thailand". Mycopathologia. 131 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1007/bf01103897. PMID 8532047. S2CID 20573325.
  4. ^ The Sumatran Devil
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Extant species of family Spalacidae
Myospalacinae
(Zokors)
Myospalax
  • M. myospalax group: False zokor (Myospalax aspalax)
  • Siberian zokor (Myospalax myospalax)
  • M. psilurus group: Transbaikal zokor (Myospalax psilurus)
Eospalax
  • Chinese zokor (Eospalax fontanierii)
  • Rothschild's zokor (Eospalax rothschildi)
  • Smith's zokor (Eospalax smithii)
Rhizomyinae
Rhizomys
(Bamboo rats)
  • Hoary bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus)
  • Chinese bamboo rat (Rhizomys sinensis)
  • Large bamboo rat (Rhizomys sumatrensis)
Cannomys
(Bamboo rats)
  • Lesser bamboo rat (Cannomys badius)
Tachyoryctes
(Mole rats)
  • Ankole African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes ankoliae)
  • Mianzini African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes annectens)
  • Aberdare Mountains African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes audax)
  • Demon African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes daemon)
  • Kenyan African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes ibeanus)
  • Big-headed African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes macrocephalus)
  • Navivasha African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes naivashae)
  • King African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes rex)
  • Rwanda African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes ruandae)
  • Rudd's African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes ruddi)
  • Embi African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes spalacinus)
  • East African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes splendens)
  • Storey's African mole-rat (Tachyoryctes storeyi)
Spalacinae
(Blind mole-rats)
Nannospalax
  • Middle East blind mole-rat (Nannospalax ehrenbergi)
  • Lesser mole-rat (Nannospalax leucodon)
  • Anatolian blind mole-rat (Nannospalax xanthodon)
Spalax
  • Sandy mole-rat (Spalax arenarius)
  • Middle East blind mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi)
  • Giant mole-rat (Spalax giganteus)
  • Balkan mole-rat (Spalax graecus)
  • Greater mole-rat (Spalax microphthalmus)
  • Munzur mole-rat (Spalax munzuri)
  • Kazakhstan blind mole-rat (Spalax uralensis)
  • Podolsk mole-rat (Spalax zemni)
Category
Taxon identifiers
Rhizomys sumatrensis
Mus sumatrensis


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