Giant pouched rat
Emin giant pouched rat ( Cricetomys emini )
The giant pouched rats ( Cricetomys ) are a genus of very large African rodents that live in rainforests and bushland.
Description
With a body length of up to 45 cm and an equally long tail they are two to three times as large as other representatives of the hamster rats. Males reach a weight of 2.5 kg, females are 1.4 kg heavy. The coat color is gray-brown or red-brown on the upper side and lower side white. The large ears and tail are naked.
Originally six species of this genus have been described, however, summed up the rodent specialist John Ellerman this 1941 a single species together, the varieties would at most the status of subspecies. 1967 this some kind of Huguette Genest- Villard was again divided into two types:
- Gambian pouched rats or Gambian rat, Cricetomys gambianus
- Emin giant pouched rat, Cricetomys emini
Giant pouched rats are omnivores. They feed on plant materials of all kinds, insects, snails and even feces. Much food is tucked into the cheek pouches and then stored in the buildings.
As a loner are giant pouched rats to fellow males extremely aggressive. Locks are two males together, they fight to the death of one of the counterparties. Several times a year, these animals reproduce; some individuals are likely ten times a year have offspring. A litter includes one to five, usually four cubs. The service life may be in captivity for seven years, is in the wilderness but probably much lower.
Resources and benefits
The Gambian pouched rats inhabited savannahs south of the Sahara in Africa. The Emin giant pouched rat lives in the rainforests of West and Central Africa. Both species are nocturnal and usually hide in thickets and undergrowth. You can even create burrows, but prefer natural openings such as knot holes or termite mounds. Giant pouched rats are good climbers and swimming.
In some cities in West Africa giant pouched rats inhabit now drains and are considered just such pests such as brown rats. However, this is not in all of Africa so; in South Africa, the animals avoid human contact and are considered rare.
The animals reproduce in captivity continues to feed are inexpensive and are therefore grown in rural areas on a local scale as food for their own consumption or for sale on markets. To their accommodation partially vertically-arranged oil drums are used in their cap in the center a round hole was cut.
Also for entomologists are giant pouched rats of interest because they are the hosts of parasitic insects group of Hemimerina that feed on the skin of animals dandruff and fungal coverings. These insects are placed close to the ear worms and can be found in any other mammal.
Giant pouched rats are trained in sub-Saharan Africa on finding tuberculosis in humans. Preliminary experiments suggest that the rats could test 150 saliva samples in 30 minutes on tuberculosis. With the microscope 20 samples per day can currently be investigated. In 2003, the World Bank provided $ 165,000 for further research are available.
They are also trained to detect landmines. They are easier to grow compared to mine detection dogs to feed and transport and solve their low body weight no mines. The training duration is six to twelve months. The animals are used Apopo for demining in Mozambique.