Saintperle

8/20/06

aka "Sweetie-Pie Rat"


Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat
(Phloeomys pallidus)

The largest endemic rat in the Philippines.
They weigh up to 2.5 kilos. Unlike ordinary mice and rats, they don’t spread diseases or pose threats to humans. They are quiet and timid animals that nest in hollow trees. They actively forage in the forests and feed on tender young leaves. However, cloud rats are severely threatened due to the destruction of their habitat and by rampant hunting for their meat. Only one young is born in a year; thus, their slow-growing population also contributes to the threats they face.

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