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Species
Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse, 1840
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
Research has shown that the cheek pouches of C. gambianus most likely evolved in parallel to those of Sciuridae and other members of the family Muridae.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cricetomys_gambianus/ |
Gambian rats are found in central Africa, in regions south of the Sahara desert as far south as Zululand. This includes countries such as Nigeria among others.
Biogeographic Regions: ethiopian (Native )
- Ajayi, S., O. Tewe, E. Faturoti. 1978. Behavioral changes in African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse) under domestication. East African Wildlife Journal, 16(2): 137-143.
- Kingdon, J. 1989. East African Mammals. London, New York: Academic Press.
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cricetomys_gambianus/ |
Gambian rats are in danger of being overhunted, but due to their rapid generation time the population has not reached the levels of critically endangered or otherwise.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
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Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cricetomys_gambianus/ |
This very widespread species occurs from the coast of West Africa through central Africa to the coast of East Africa, southwards to the north-eastern tip of South Africa and southern Angola. It occurs from sea level to 2,000 m asl.
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Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/5522 |
Red List Criteria
Year Assessed
Assessor/s
Reviewer/s
Contributor/s
History
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2004Least Concern (LC)
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1996Lower Risk/least concern (LR/lc)
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Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/5522 |
Gambian rats are similar in size to the other species of giant pouched rat, African giant pouched rats, and are often confused with this species. Gambian rats have coarse, brown fur and a dark ring around the eyes, in contrast to African giant pouched rats, which have soft, grey coats with white fur on the belly. Their long tails are scaly and they have narrow heads with small eyes. The main physical characteristic of Gambian rats and all Cricetomys in general are their large cheek pouches. These pouches can expand to a great size, allowing Gambian rats to transport massive quantities of food if necessary. Cheek pouches also exist in other families of rodentia, such as the African hamster and members of the subfamily Cricetinae. Males and females are usually the same size, with little sexual dimorphism. Gambian rats can reach sizes up to 910 mm and beyond, including the tail. These rats also have a very low fat content, which may be the cause of their succeptibility to cold.
Range mass: 1 to 1.47 kg.
Range length: 645 to 910 mm.
Average basal metabolic rate: 71 cm3.O2/g/hr.
Other Physical Features: endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: sexes alike
Average basal metabolic rate: 6.024 W.
- Ryan, J. 1989. Evolution of cheek pouches in African pouched rats (Rodentia: Cricetomyinae). Journal of Mammalogy, 70(2): 267-274.
- Ajayi, S. 1977. Live and carcass weights of giant rat Cricetomys gambianus and domestic rabbit Oryctalagus cuniculus. East African Wildlife Journal, 15(3): 223-228.
- Nowak, R. 1997. "Mammals of the World" (On-line). Accessed March 28, 2004 at http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/walkers_mammals_of_the_world/rodentia/rodentia.muridae.cricetomys.html.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | ©1995-2013, The Regents of the University of Michigan and its licensors |
Source | http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/Cricetomys_gambianus/ |
Population
Population Trend
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Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/5522 |
Type for Cricetomys ansorgei
Catalog Number: USNM 181804
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male; Adult
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Heller
Year Collected: 1911
Locality: Mount Gargues (Uaragess), North Creek, Mathews Range, Rift Valley, Kenya, Africa
Elevation (m): 1829
- Type: Heller, E. 1912 Jul 05. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 59 (16): 15.
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Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/mammals/?irn=7263164 |
Major Threats
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources |
Source | http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/5522 |
Type for Cricetomys ansorgei
Catalog Number: USNM 181806
Collection: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Vertebrate Zoology, Division of Mammals
Sex/Stage: Male; Aged
Preparation: Skin; Skull
Collector(s): E. Heller
Year Collected: 1911
Locality: Mazeras, Coast Province, Kenya, Africa
- Type: Heller, E. 1912 Jul 05. Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections. 59 (16): 16.
License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ |
Rights holder/Author | This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. Unless otherwise noted, this image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. |
Source | http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/mammals/?irn=7263166 |