#pouched rat

[all-mammal-creechur]

Emin's Pouched Rat Cricetomys emini

This widespread species occurs from West Africa through the Congo Basin to East Africa. The species occurs in primary and secondary tropical moist forest habitats. They were introduced into the exotic pet trade, but have been banned in the United States.

img source

[deguarts]

Thanks for all the support through my pouched rat wood charms! I've donated $132 through APOPO to help support the HeroRATs. I did opt for the plush so I can have it hang out at my con tables (like with the pika plush) and I can point people to these organizations if they ask about him! Future donations will be directly monetary.

Pouched rat charms are available in my shop!

[typhlonectes]

Backpack-wearing rats could start search-and-rescue missions next year

African pouched rats equipped with backpacks are being trained to locate survivors trapped under debris. 

Their size, natural curiosity and powerful sense of smell make them well-suited for the job.

Large, fuzzy, backpack-wearing rodents may soon be helping first responders locate and communicate with survivors trapped in disaster sites. The rodents are currently being trained to sniff out people trapped under rubble and can now do complex multi-room searches for victims, bringing the “hero rats” a step closer to being deployed at real disaster sites.

via:  New Scientist

[eigelstudio]

Prompt 6: Mimic 

The Giant Potoo Rat

For the mimic prompt, I'm racing up to Just The Zoo of Us episode 28, featuring the Great Potoo and the African Giant Pouched Rat.

The Giant Potoo Rat is quite clever at using its natural coloration to help it stealthily hide while sleeping in plain sight by mimicking part of a stump or tree branch. Much like the Great Potoo, the Potoo Rat tucks in its wings and tilts its head in the air to better mimic the silhouette of a stump. It is able to sleep in upright positions, often tucking away its paws in its thick fur while it dozes in a motionless statue-like state.

A shy creature by nature, it relies on its strong senses of smell and hearing to alert it to danger and to also navigate the nocturnal world. 

Color Vision:

While I have not colored this creature (yet), I envision their coloring is inspired by the Great Potoo to have a similar mimicking effect to their avian counterpart.

Side note: To learn more about the inspiration behind this series, please check out the captions in any of my first three hybrid animals from this month!

[ragnyan]

Pillows :7

cosplay-ftw/joseph-joestar-caesar-zeppeli-plush-pillow

[joutacujo]

*puts this in evil transition goals folder*

[catbreon-draws]

Recently I have become a bit obsessed with Gambian pouched rats (aka African giant pouched rats). For those unfamiliar, they are a very large species of rat from Africa that has cheek pouches! While they are not really domesticated they are relatively easy to tame and are very smart. In some countries they are trained to detect landmines and can also sniff out tuberculosis (check out APOPO’s HeroRats). They LOVE bananas, there are so many cute pics of these things eating bananas ;w;

I live in the United States, so I will likely never be able to own one or even see one in person (unless I go down to the Everglades, where they are an invasive species, and spot a wild one). Apparently they were responsible for a monkey pox epidemic in the states awhile back, and they are now illegal to import and there are other various laws regarding selling and owning them. But in many other countries it is legal to own them and people do breed them as pets. There is even a National Pouched Rat Society!

If you are fortunate enough to own a Gambian pouched rat or know someone who does I would love to hear your personal experience with them and what they are like as pets, and see pictures of them, so I can live vicariously through you lol

If you happen to know someone who owns one of these cool animals and blogs about it (maybe it’s you!) please fill me in so I can follow!!

[ratcl0wn]

pouched rats are the twunks of rat-kind