| Northern Luzon giant cloud rat | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Phloeomys |
| Species: | P. pallidus |
| Binomial name | |
| Phloeomys pallidus Nehring, 1890 | |
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The northern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys pallidus) or northern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat, also known as bu-ot in Filipino, is a large species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is only found in Luzon, the Philippines. [1] [2] [3]
This very large rodent weighs 1.9–2.6 kg (4.2–5.7 lb) and is 75–77 cm (29.5–30.5 in) long, including its tail. [3] The colour of its relatively long pelage, which also covers the tail, is highly variable, but it is usually pale brown-grey or white with some dark brown or black patches. [3] They often have a black mask and collar but can also be entirely white. [2] [3] The only other member of the genus Phloeomys , the southern Luzon giant cloud rat (P. cumingi), has a more southerly distribution, is generally smaller (although with some overlap), and is entirely dark brown. [4] However, the occasional brown Northern Luzon giant cloud rat has been reported in the Mountain Province, [2] , and the taxonomic limits between the two Phloeomys are not fully resolved. [1]
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat lives at elevations between sea level and 2,200 metres (7,200 ft). [3] In some areas, it overlaps with the rarer giant bushy-tailed cloud rat, but that species mainly occurs at higher altitudes than the northern Luzon giant cloud rat. [3]
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat is nocturnal and feeds on various types of vegetation. [3] Because of its relatively large size, it does not enter traditional small-mammal traps, which has limited research in the species. [5]
Northern Luzon giant cloud rats often live in pairs with one or two dependent young. [2] They give birth in hollow boles of trees (standing or fallen) or in burrows in the ground. [2] The sperm head of northern Luzon giant cloud rat has a short apical hook, with the sperm tail attached off-center basally. [6] The tail of the sperm is about 127 μm long. [6]
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat can cause extensive damage to rice crops and are sometimes considered a pest. [7] They are regularly hunted for food in the Sierra Madre. [8] It has been extirpated from some regions because of hunting, [3] but overall it appears to be able to withstand hunting pressure and in general it remains common and widespread. [1]
