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Northern Luzon giant cloud rat
Species of rodent From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The northern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys pallidus) or northern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat, also known as bu-ot in Filipino, is a large species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is only found in Luzon, the Philippines.[1][2][3]
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Appearance
This very large rodent weighs 1.9–2.6 kg (4.2–5.7 lb) and is 75–77 cm (29.5–30.5 in) long, including its tail.[3] The colour of its relatively long pelage, which also covers the tail, is highly variable, but it is usually pale brown-grey or white with some dark brown or black patches.[3] They often have a black mask and collar but can also be entirely white.[2][3] The only other member of the genus Phloeomys, the southern Luzon giant cloud rat (P. cumingi), has a more southerly distribution, is generally smaller (although with some overlap), and is entirely dark brown.[4] However, the occasional brown Northern Luzon giant cloud rat has been reported in the Mountain Province,[2] and the taxonomic limits between the two Phloeomys are not fully resolved.[1]
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Distribution and habitat
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat lives at elevations between sea level and 2,200 metres (7,200 ft).[3] In some areas, it overlaps with the rarer giant bushy-tailed cloud rat, but that species mainly occurs at higher altitudes than the northern Luzon giant cloud rat.[3]
Behavior
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat is nocturnal and feeds on various types of vegetation.[3] Because of its relatively large size, it does not enter traditional small-mammal traps, which has limited research in the species.[5]
Reproduction
Northern Luzon giant cloud rats often live in pairs with one or two dependent young.[2] They give birth in hollow boles of trees (standing or fallen) or in burrows in the ground.[2] The sperm head of northern Luzon giant cloud rat has a short apical hook, with the sperm tail attached off-center basally.[6] The tail of the sperm is about 127 μm long.[6]
Conservation status
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat can cause extensive damage to rice crops and are sometimes considered a pest.[7] They are regularly hunted for food in the Sierra Madre.[8] It has been extirpated from some regions because of hunting,[3] but overall it appears to be able to withstand hunting pressure and in general it remains common and widespread.[1]
See also
References
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