Giant Rat - Riesenratte
Samstag, 22. November 2008
Giant rat found in Johannesburg.
Suppose this will once again start heavy discussions concerning false or true as I've already experienced with my blog entry concerning Herkules the largest dog. This picture of the large rat in Johannesburg was sent to me and after doing some research, stumbled upon some interesting information. Yak - just the idea of this large rat crossing my way makes me shiver from head to toe!!
"I was having a braai and related my encounter ten years ago with a giant rat. I was working on the optics in the tunnels under the runways at Johannesburg International Airport as a network engineer. To me it looked like the size of a dog, not a Rhodesian Ridgeback but a Miniature Schnauzer. Everyone had a good laugh, and said it was a fishing story especially when I stated that after my initial shock I was even more paranoid about encountering the snake that eats rats of this size! I resorted to Google to prove my point. I discovered the giant African pouch rat. Some common (Norway) rats even grow to a size of 2.4 pounds! I think someone imported a large rat as a pet which then escaped and found a home in the tunnels."
- By ronaldxbartels -
(Wikipedia) The Gambian Pouch Rat can grow to be as big as a raccoon and can weigh up to 4 kg. It has very poor eyesight and so depends on its senses of smell and hearing. Its name comes from the large, hamster-like pouches in its cheeks. It is not a true rat, but is part of a uniquely African branch of muroid rodents. In its native Africa, this rat lives in colonies of up to twenty, usually in forests and thickets, but also commonly in termite mounds. It is omnivorous, feeding on vegetables, insects, crabs, snails, and other items, but apparently preferring palm fruits and palm kernels. The Gambian Pouch Rat reaches sexual maturity at 5-7 months of age. It has up to four litters every nine months with up to six offspring in each litter. Males are territorial and tend to be aggressive when they encounter one another, otherwise this rodent is extremely friendly and has become popular as an exotic pet. It is intelligent, social and can be very gentle if handled from an early age. In Africa, it is routinely eaten as bushmeat. It (and other mammals) are referred to by the pidgin name of "beef".
