Mice and Rats

[Dewi]

Striped Mice, KTP.

[nan]

the first ones... I'm still not ready

[Dewi]

And another....

[Dewi]

Rat, Bateleur camp.

"Good Gravy" is the term you Saffies use I think?

[nan]

Rat, Bateleur camp.
"Good Gravy" is the term you Saffies use I think?

[Mel]

What kind of good gravy rat is it? Acacia Tree?

[Toko]

Greater Cane Rat Thryonomys swinderianus



Geographic Range
Common in Africa, south of the Sahara. It ranges from Gambia to southern Sudan and from south to north Namibia and South Africa. Its range does not include the southwest portion of South Africa.

Habitat
Near marshes and river banks, in plantations of cultivated crops.

Physical Description
The body length is usually 35-61 cm, and their tail reaches 6- 26 cm in length. Great Cane Rats’ heavyset bodies have an average weight in males of 4.5 kg and 3.5 kg in females. They have a rounded nose, short ears, and incisors that grow continuously. The pelage is coarse, with flattened bristle like hairs that grow in groups of five or six. The upper parts are a yellowish brown color and the underside is a much lighter gray. Great Cane Rats have no under fur. The forefeet are smaller than the hind feet and have three well developed middle digits with the first and fifth digits greatly reduced. The hind feet have no first digit and all digits have heavy claws.

Reproduction
They live in groups of males and females during the breeding season. When the dry season comes males separate from the group and live by themselves. The females continue to live together.
The wet season of the year is the usual breeding season. Females generally have two litters per year with usually 4 offspring. Great Cane Rats estrous cycle usually lasts 6.62 days and they have a gestation period of 137- 172 days. Offspring weigh about 129 grams and are relatively well developed. Their eyes are open, they are covered in hair and can run. T. swinderianus become sexually mature at about a year old.

Behavior
T. swinderianus can be usually found in groups composed of one male, several females, and young from more than one generation. They are nocturnal and create trails through grass and reeds that lead from shelter to feeding and water sites. They pound down tall grass to make nests and also make shallow burrows for shelter. They are good swimmers and divers. If Great Cane Rats become afraid they either stomp their hind feet and grunt or quickly run towards water. Fitzinger (1997) describes males fighting by having a nose to nose pushing duel. He did not observe males fighting with females or young.

Diet
They are herbivores and their natural diet is mainly grasses and cane. Sometimes they also eat bark, fallen fruits, nuts and many different kinds of cultivated crops (sugar cane, maize, millet, cassava, roundnuts, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins). Great Cane Rats’ favorite food is elephant grass and sweet potatoes. They prefer plants with lots of moisture and soluble carbohydrates.

[Richprins]

Only had one mouse sighting...in Shingwedzi...

The thing came and attacked our leftover chop bones and eventually other meat offered....never knew they were carnivorous!

[nan]

I start very strong... I don't even know the name

seen in Tanzania, Manyara Lake... quite big

2.5.2003

[Flutterby]

They are actually quite sweet...if they don't come too close!