Northern Luzon giant cloud rat
| Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Phloeomys |
| Species: | P. pallidus |
| Binomial name | |
| Phloeomys pallidus Nehring, 1890 | |
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The Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat (Phloeomys pallidus) is a large species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is only found in the northern and central part of Luzon, the Philippines. It prefers forest and scrub, but also occurs in degraded habitats such as plantations.[1] It occurs from sea level to an altitude of about 2,200 metres (7,200 ft).[2] 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.[2]
The Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat has been extirpated in some regions because of hunting,[2] but overall it appears to be able to withstand hunting pressure and in general it remains common and widespread.[1] It is nocturnal and feeds on various types of vegetation.[2]
This very large rodent weighs 1.9–2.6 kilograms (4.2–5.7 lb) and is 75–77 centimetres (30–30 in) long.[2] The colour of its relatively long pelage, which also covers the tail, is highly variable, but usually it is mostly very pale grey-brown or white with some dark brown or black patches.[2] Individuals that are almost entirely white also occur.[2]
References
- 1 2 3 Heaney, L., Balete, D., Rosell-Ambal, G., Tabaranza, B., Ong, P., Ruedas, L. & Oliver, W. (2008). "Phloeomys pallidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Field Museum of Natural History (2010). Phloeomys pallidus. Synopsis of Philippine Mammals. Accessed 10 June 2011
- Musser, G.G.; Carleton, M.D. (2005). "Superfamily Muroidea". In Wilson, D.E.; Reeder, D.M. Mammal Species of the World: A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. 894–1531. ISBN 978-0-8018-8221-0. OCLC 62265494.
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