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Common rock rat

Mammals

The common rock rat (Zyzomys argurus) is a rodent of the family Muridae that is found only in Australia. It lives in the rocky areas of woodlands, grasslands and low open forests, especially on the scree slopes below cliffs, and spends the day in cool rock crevices because direct sun can bring on fatal heat stroke. It is golden brown with a white belly, weighs roughly 25 to 65 grams and has a head and body length of 85 to 140 millimetres. Its thick tail carries fat deposits, is covered in overlapping scales and sparse hairs, and its skin can slip off to help the animal escape a predator. Females have four nipples and litters average two or three young after a gestation of about 35 days. It eats plant matter, grasses, seeds, fungi and insects, and a captive animal has been recorded living 4.2 years.

Facts
Activity Pattern
Nocturnal 1
Lifespan
4.2 2
Classification
Diet
Omnivore 1
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Muridae, Taxa
Source Common rock rat (Wikipedia)

In Biome

Grassland, Biomes
Source Common rock rat (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Common rock rat (Wikipedia)Lead
Quote, Lead
It is found only in Australia
Sources
1. Common rock rat (Wikipedia)
  • Lead, activity
    As a nocturnal animal, it spends the daytime nesting in cool rock crevices.
  • Diet
    Their diet consists of plant matter, grasses, seeds, fungi and insects.
  • Lead
    It is found only in Australia
  • Child Taxon Of: Muridae, Lead, family
    is a species of rodent in the family Muridae
  • In Biome: Grassland, Lead, habitat
    it lives in the rocky areas of woodlands, grasslands and low open forests
View the Source
2. AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources): AnAge: Zyzomys argurus
AnAge (Human Ageing Genomic Resources)Maximum longevity
Quote, Maximum longevity
one specimen lived 4.2 years in captivity
View the Source
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