Gambian Pouched Rat
Gambian Pouched Rat
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| アフリカオニネズミ | |||
| Character Data | |||
| AKA | African Giant Pouched Rat
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| Romaji | Afurikaoninezumi
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| Debut | Kemono Friends 3 | ||
| Animal Data | |||
| Scientific Name | Cricetomys gambianus
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| Distribution | Africa
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| Diet | Omnivore
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| Avg. Lifespan | 7 years
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| Read More | Gambian pouched rat
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| Conservation | 
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| Gambian Pouched Rat | KF3 | Gallery |
Gambian Pouched Rat is a type of rodent Friend first introduced in Kemono Friends 3.
Appearance
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Series Appearances
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In Real Life
The Gambian Pouched Rat is a large rodent in the giant pouched rat] family Cricetomys. It is among the largest rodents in the world, growing to about 0.9 m (3 ft.) long (including the tail) and weighing between 1.0 and 1.4 kg (2.2 and 3.1 lb.). It's natural habitat is sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Kenya and from Angola to Mozambique.
These rats have very poor eyesight and so rely on their sense of smell and hearing. Not considered a "true rat", it is considered part of the African Muroid rodents. As is typical with rodents, they are very social and can live in groups (called "colonies") of up to 20 rats. The name "pouched rat" actually comes from the hamster-like pouches in its cheeks, which it uses to store food.
Various vegetables, insects, crabs, and snails make up the omnivorous diet, however palm fruits and palm kernels seem to be a favorite.
Home burrows consist of a single long passage with many side alleys and chambers, one specifically for sleeping and the others for storage.
Gambian pouched rat reach sexual maturity at around 5–7 months of age. Up to four litters every nine months are born, with up to six offspring in each litter. Males are very territorial and tend to be aggressive when they encounter one another.
Trivia
Gambian Pouched Rat can be trained to detect landmines and tuberculosis thanks to their keen sense of smell. As recently as 2020, one of the "HeroRAT" called Magawa, trained by APOPO to detect landmines in Cambodia, received the PDSA gold medal for its service, being the first rat to receive the honours. It was born in Tanzania in 2013 and began his service since 2016. Magawa had celebrated his birthday in November, reaching the grand old age of 8 before passing away peacefully in January 2022.
References
- Wikipedia Page
- Kingdon, J. (1997). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. pp. 199–200. ISBN 0-12-408355-2.
- Olude, M.A.; Ogunbunmi, T.K.; Olopade, J.O.; Ihunwo, A.O. (2014). "The olfactory bulb structure of African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse 1840) I: Cytoarchitecture". Anatomical Science International. 89 (4): 224–231. doi:10.1007/s12565-014-0227-0. PMID 24469950. S2CID 25811366.
- In Loving Memory of Magawa, the HeroRAT.