Cloud rat
I.U.C.N status
International Union for Conservation of Nature
LC
Least concern
NT
Near threatened
VU
Vulnerable
EN
Endangered
CR
Critically endangered
EW
Extinct in the wild
EX
Extinct
Identity card
Class :
Mammals
Order :
Rodents
Family :
Murids
Genus :
Phloeomys
Species :
pallidus
Average size
From 70 to 77 cm
Weight
1.9 to 2.6 kg
Longevity
17 years
Sexual maturity
1 year
Gestation
60 to 65 days
Litter
1 young
Diet
Vegetarian
Leaves, buds...
Did you know?
The cloud rat is one of the largest rat species in the world. Arboreal, it rarely comes down to ground level. Couples often stay together. They can reproduce up to twice a year. The young cling to their mother and do not detach until after 3 to 4 months of life.
Threats and conservation
The cloud rat can cause significant damage to rice crops and is sometimes described as a pest. Although it has disappeared from some regions due to hunting, overall, it seems able to withstand this pressure and generally remains common and widespread.
