Atlantic Bamboo Rat

About the Atlantic Bamboo Rat

The Atlantic bamboo rat (Kannabateomys amblyonyx), or southern bamboo rat, is a spiny rat species found in humid tropical forests in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. It is the only member of the genus Kannabateomys. The Atlantic bamboo rat can reach a head-and-body length of 25 cm (10 in) with a tail of 32 cm (12.6 in). Its weight is about 475 g (1 lb 1 oz). The pelage is the typical agouti brown-to-grey colour of many rodents, grading to chestnut on the flanks. The chin and underparts are white tinged with reddish brown. The first 6 cm (2.4 in) of the tail are well-haired but the rest is sparsely haired. There is a distinct tuft of hairs at the tip. When fully grown, this bamboo rat with its long tail is unlikely to be mistaken for any other species.

The genus name Kannabateomys derives from three Ancient Greek words: κάννα (kánna), meaning "reed, cane", βατέω (batéō), meaning "I mount, cover", and μῦς (mûs), meaning "mouse, rat". The species name amblyonyx derives from the two Ancient Greek words ἀμβλύς (amblús), meaning "blunt, not sharp", and ὄνυξ (ónux), meaning "claw, fingernail".

This species is native to South... Wikipedia →