Blick's grass rat

Blick's grass rat (Arvicanthis blicki) is a large rodent in the family Muridae found only in Ethiopia, where it lives in montane and alpine grassland and moorland between roughly 2750 and 4050 metres, in the Chilalo and Bale Mountains east of the Rift Valley. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland. It has grey-brown fur flecked with silvery white, a thin faint black line along the back, a short tail and densely furred feet, and weighs about 140 to 150 grams. Unlike many rodents it is diurnal and terrestrial, and it eats the leaves of grasses and herbs. Breeding occurs throughout the year, probably with two litters per female each year. Habitat loss threatens it, and the IUCN lists it as Near Threatened.