Ajay Kumar at 21:04, 30 August 2023

2023-08-30T21:04:54Z

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{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Speciesbox
| name = Hoary bamboo rat
| image = Rhizomys pruinosus - Kunming Natural History Museum of Zoology - DSC02462.JPG
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn|author=Aplin, K.|author2=Lunde, D.|author3=Molur, S.|name-list-style=amp |year=2008 |url=https://www.iucnredlist.org/details/19645/0 |title=''Rhizomys pruinosus''|access-date=2014-09-30}} Database entry includes a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.</ref>
| genus = Rhizomys
| species = pruinosus
| authority = [[Edward Blyth|Blyth]], 1851
| synonyms =
| range_map = Range_Rhizomys_pruinosus.png
}}

The '''hoary bamboo rat''' ('''''Rhizomys pruinosus''''') is a species of [[rodent]] in the family [[Spalacidae]] found in Southeast Asia ([[Cambodia]], [[Laos]], [[Malaysia]], [[Myanmar]], [[Thailand]], and [[Vietnam]]), East Asia ([[China]]) and South Asia ([[India]]).{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

==Description==
[[File:Rhizomys_pruinosus_Keulemans.jpg|thumb|left]]
The hoary bamboo rat is a robust rodent that reaches a head-and-body length of {{convert|240|to|345|mm|0|abbr=on}} with a tail of {{convert|90|to|130|mm|0|abbr=on}}. Its weight ranges from {{convert|1500|to|2500|g|abbr=on}}. The fur on the upper parts is greyish-brown or dark brown with a somewhat grizzled appearance due to the presence of white-tipped guard hairs. The under parts are paler greyish-brown and the tail is scantily haired. The skull is broad and somewhat flattened and the [[zygomatic arch]] is large. The upper incisors slope inwards and the broad molars are an orange colour.<ref name=Smith>{{cite book|author1=Andrew T. Smith|author2=Yan Xie|title=A guide to the mammals of China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ka-9f68nPT4C&pg=PA213 |year=2008 |publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-0-691-09984-2|page=213}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
The hoary bamboo rat has a wide range which includes northern and north-eastern India, eastern Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, and southern China. It occurs from low ground to altitudes of {{convert|4000|m|abbr=on}} above sea level. It occurs in a variety of habitats including coniferous and mixed woodland, secondary forest, shrubby land bordering woodland, plantations, and bamboo thickets. It is generally absent from dense forests and from cultivated land.<ref name=iucn/>

==Behaviour==
This rat is nocturnal and lives alone in a simple burrow, which has a single entrance marked by a mound, an escape exit, a nest chamber, and latrine chamber. The nest is lined with dried grasses and shreds of bamboo. The bamboo rat emerges at night to forage for plant material, mostly feeding on the stems and roots of [[bamboo]]s and [[beard grass]]. Breeding may take place all year round, but it peaks in November/December and March/June. At these times, a male bamboo rat moves into the burrow of a female. The [[gestation]] period is about 22 days and the litter size is usually between one and five. Weaning takes place when the young are about two or two and a half months.<ref name=Smith/>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Rhizomys pruinosus}}

{{Spalacidae nav}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2112404}}

[[Category:Rhizomys]]
[[Category:Rats of Asia]]
[[Category:Rodents of India]]
[[Category:Rodents of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Rodents of China]]
[[Category:Rodents of Laos]]
[[Category:Rodents of Malaysia]]
[[Category:Rodents of Myanmar]]
[[Category:Rodents of Thailand]]
[[Category:Rodents of Vietnam]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1851]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Edward Blyth]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]

Hoary bamboo rat - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 21:04, 30 August 2023