The giant thicket rat (''Grammomys gigas'') is a species of
rodent
Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the order Rodentia (), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal species are rodents. They are n ...
in the family
Muridae which is restricted to a small area of
Kenya
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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.
Habitat and ecology
The giant thicket rat is an arboreal species which is found in montane moist forest and high altitude 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 was established in 1949 to protect Mount Kenya, the wildlife and surrounding environment, which forms a habitat for wild animals, as well as acting as an area for the catchment of water, to supply Kenya's water.
History ...
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.[
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References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q303914
Endemic fauna of Kenya
Grammomys
Rodents of Africa
Mammals described in 1911
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot