Giant white-tailed rat Facts
Giant white-tailed rat Facts
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| Interesting Giant white-tailed rat Facts: |
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| Giant white-tailed rat can reach 2.2 pounds of weight (like a rabbit). |
| Giant white-tailed rat has grey-brown fur on dorsal side of the body and creamy-white belly. Paws are light-colored. |
| Giant white-tailed rat has long, white tail, hence the name "white-tailed". Tail is naked (without hairs) and covered with scales that slightly overlap each other (tail has rasp-like surface). |
| Giant white-tailed rat has large incisors (they grow continuously) and strong jaws. Sharp teeth are used for the extraction of seed hidden inside hard-shelled nuts. Giant white-tailed rat keeps its incisors at optimal length through constant gnawing of surrounding objects. |
| Giant white-tailed rat is nocturnal creature (active during the night). |
| Giant white-tailed rat hides under the logs or in the hollow trees during the day. |
| Giant white-tailed rat is equally well adapted to the life on the trees and on the forest floor. Strong claws on the hind feet facilitate climbing on the trees. |
| Giant white-tailed rat is an omnivore (it eats plants and meat). Its diet is based on seed, fruit, fungi, crustaceans, amphibians, small reptiles, eggs and young birds. |
| Giant white-tailed rat plays important role in dispersal of seed and spores of various plants and fungi (such as macadamia nuts, yellow walnut and truffles) in the wild. |
| Despite their valuable role in the wild, giant white-tailed rats are classified as pest in the urban areas. Giant white-tailed rats can pierce garbage bins made of steel and destroy various leather and plastic items and electric devices. These animals can also inflict serious damage to the vehicles by cutting the wires and various rubber and plastic parts. |
| Natural enemies of giant white-tailed rats are pythons, quolls and owls. These rats were part of Aboriginal diet in the past. |
| Giant white-tailed rats are solitary and territorial outside the mating season. |
| Mating season of giant white-tailed rats takes place from September to January. |
| Pregnancy in females lasts 36 days and ends with 2 to 3 babies (pups). Female gives birth in the nest that is usually located high in the trees or inside the cave. Young giant white-tailed rats stay with their mother until the age of 3 months. |
| Giant white-tailed rat can survive more than 2 years in the wild. |
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