Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat
Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat
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| ウスイロホソオクモネズミ | |||
| Character Data | |||
| AKA | Northern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat, bu-ot
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| Romaji | Usuirohosōkumonezumi
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| Debut | Not Featured Yet | ||
| Animal Data | |||
| Scientific Name | Phloeomys pallidus
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| Distribution | Luzon, the Philippines
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| Diet | Herbivore
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| Avg. Lifespan | 5-10 years
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| Read More | Northern Luzon giant cloud rat
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| Conservation | 
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| Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat |
Northern Luzon Giant Cloud Rat is a type of rodent Friend that was first revealed on Twitter as new keychain merch.
Appearance
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Series Appearances
| Media | Role | ||
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| This Friend has yet to appear in any official media. | |||
In Real Life
The northern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys pallidus), sometimes called the northern Luzon slender-tailed cloud rat or bu-ot in Filipino, is a large species of rodent in the family Muridae. It is only found in Luzon, the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. These shy, forest-dwelling creatures are covered in long, coarse fur. Their coats typically feature a mix of white to light gray shades, accented by dark brown or black patterns on their face and body. With small ears, long whiskers, and a thickly furred tail, they are well-adapted to their environment. Their large hind feet and sharp, long claws make them exceptional climbers. It is also one of the largest rat species in the world, reaching lengths of up to 2.5 feet and weighing as much as 5.7 pounds.
The diet of the northern Luzon giant cloud rat in the wild is not well documented, but it is believed to include young leaves, fruits, and crops. At the Smithsonian's National Zoo, their diet consists of rodent pellets, leafy greens, vegetables, and nuts. The giant cloud rat is known to cause significant damage to rice crops and is sometimes regarded as a pest. In the Sierra Madre, it is regularly hunted for food. While hunting has led to its disappearance in some areas, the species seems to tolerate hunting pressure relatively well and remains generally common and widespread.
Because of its relatively large size, it does not enter traditional small-mammal traps and thus, little research on the species exists. Most knowledge about the reproduction of northern Luzon giant cloud rats comes from observations of animals in human care. Births have been documented in all months of the year except January, March, and May. These cloud rats give birth to a single offspring annually, usually in a tree hollow or a burrow. The mother carries her young securely attached to a nipple.
Trivia
- They are also known as the ‘Cloudrunner’ as they mainly live high up in the canopy of trees, which is where the ‘cloud’ aspect of their name is derived from.
- All cloud rats are closely related to the Luzon tree rats (Carpomys) and hairy-tailed rats (Batomys), both of which are also native to the Philippines.
References
1. "Encyclopædia Britannica".
2. "Northern Luzon giant cloud rat Wikipedia article".
3. "IUCN Red List of Threatened Species".
4. "Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute".