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The '''Gambian pouched rat''' ('''''Cricetomys gambianus'''''), also [[Common name|commonly]] known as the '''African giant pouched rat''', is a [[species]] of [[nocturnal]] [[pouched rat]] of the [[giant pouched rat]] [[genus]] ''Cricetomys'', in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Nesomyidae]]. It is among the largest [[Muroidea|muroid]]s in the world, growing
The Gambian pouched rat is sometimes kept as a pet, but some have escaped from captivity and become an [[invasive species]] in [[Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keeping and caring for Gambian pouched rats as pets |website=The Spruce Pets |url=https://www.thesprucepets.com/gambian-pouched-rats-as-pets-1236743 |access-date=2021-01-28 |lang=en}}</ref> In the United States, the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] (CDC) and the [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA) now ban the importation of this species because it is blamed for the [[2003 Midwest monkeypox outbreak|2003 outbreak
==Characteristics==
[[File:Cricetomys gambianus 01 MWNH 266.jpg|thumb|Skull of a Gambian pouched rat]]
{{citations needed|section|date=February 2019}}
The Gambian pouched rat has very poor [[eyesight]], so it depends on its senses of [[Olfaction|smell]] and [[Hearing (sense)|hearing]].<ref>{{cite journal |first1=M.A. |last2=Ogunbunmi |first2=T.K. |last3=Olopade |first3=J.O. |last4=Ihunwo |first4=A.O. |year=2014 |title=The olfactory bulb structure of African giant rat (''Cricetomys gambianus'', {{small|Waterhouse 1840}}) I: Cytoarchitecture |journal=Anatomical Science International |volume=89 |issue=4 |pages=224–231 |last1=Olude |s2cid=25811366 |doi=10.1007/s12565-014-0227-0 |pmid=24469950}}</ref> Its name comes from the large, [[hamster]]-like pouches in its cheeks. It is not a true [[rat]], but is part of an African branch of [[muroid rodent]]s. It typically weighs between {{convert|1.0|and|1.4|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Kingdon>{{cite book |last=Kingdon |first=J. |year=1997 |title=The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals |pages=199–200 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=0-12-408355-2}}</ref> In its native Africa, the pouched rat lives in colonies of up to 20, usually in forests and thickets, but also commonly in [[termite]] mounds. It is [[Omnivore|omnivorous]], feeding on [[vegetable]]s, [[insect]]s, [[crab]]s, [[snail]]s, and other items, but apparently prefers [[
==
{{Main article|APOPO}}
A [[Tanzanian]] social enterprise founded by two Belgians, [[APOPO]] ("Anti-Personnel Landmines Removal Product Development" in English), trains
In 2020, a Hero Rat named [[Magawa]] (2013–2022)<ref name="Magawa-obit">{{cite web |title=Magawa, the landmine-sniffing hero rat, dies aged eight |website=[[BBC News]] |date=2022-01-11 |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-59951255 |access-date=2022-01-11}}</ref> received a [[People's Dispensary for Sick Animals]] [[
== Detection of tuberculosis by scent ==
The Gambian pouched rat is currently being used in experiments at [[Cornell University]] to investigate its usefulness in the detection of [[tuberculosis]] in human [[sputum]] samples.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pouched rats sniff for land mines and medical samples |date=18 May 2019 |series=[[Radio National]] [[Robyn Williams|The Science Show]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/scienceshow/pouched-rats-sniff-for-land-mines-and-medical-samples/11124508 |access-date=May 22, 2019}}</ref> Reports<ref name="National Geographic">{{cite web|last1=Cengel|first1=Katya|title=Giant Rats Trained to Sniff Out Tuberculosis in Africa|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/140816-rats-tuberculosis-smell-disease-health-animals-world|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815013122/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/08/140816-rats-tuberculosis-smell-disease-health-animals-world/|archive-date=15 August 2016|website=news.nationalgeographic.com|publisher=National Geographic|accessdate=16 August 2016}}</ref> that they are also being used in Mozambique and Tanzania to check tuberculosis test results have proven mildly incorrect: [[Genetic testing]] by Watkins shows [[APOPO]]'s workers are ''[[Cricetomys ansorgei|C. ansorgei]]''.<ref name="APOPO">{{cite web | access-date=2022-11-02 | year=2022 | website=[[APOPO]] | url=https://apopo.org/latest/2016/5/13/rodents-of-unusual-size-rous/ | title=RODENTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE (ROUS)}}</ref>
==As an invasive species==
[[File:Large-Gambian-Pouch-Rat.jpg|thumb|right|A Gambian pouched rat killed in the Florida Keys]]
Gambian pouched rats have become an [[invasive species]] on [[Grassy Key]] in the [[Florida Keys]],<ref>{{cite news |title=More huge Gambian rats found on Grassy Key |date=25 March 2012 |website=keysnet.com |url=http://www.keysnet.com/2012/03/24/433069/more-huge-gambian-rats-found-on.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328043327/http://www.keysnet.com/2012/03/24/433069/more-huge-gambian-rats-found-on.html |archive-date=2012-03-28 }}</ref> after a private breeder allowed the animals to escape in the 1990s.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Terrell|date=June 3, 2014|title=Invasive Giant Rats Make a Comeback in the Florida Keys {{!}} The Weather Channel - Articles from The Weather Channel {{!}} weather.com|url=https://weather.com/science/nature/news/invasive-giants-rats-return-florida-keys-20140603|access-date=2022-02-25|website=The Weather Channel|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Florida tries to wipe out cat-sized African rats |work=[[Reuters]] |year=2007 |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-florida-rats-idUSN2430572020070524}}</ref> Starting in 2007, Florida wildlife officials have tried to eradicate it from Grassy Key, but it was still present {{As of|2014|lc=y}}, and has been sighted nearby on [[Key Largo, Florida|Key Largo]] and in [[Marathon, Florida|Marathon]], Florida.<ref name=":0" />
This outsized African rodent is also believed to be responsible for the [[2003 Midwest monkeypox outbreak]] in the United States, after spreading it to [[prairie dogs]] that were purchased as pets. In 2003, the
==References==
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==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Novak |first1=R.M. |last2=Paradiso |first2=J.L. |year=1991 |title=Walkers Mammals of the World |volume=II |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |place=Baltimore, MD}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Perry |first1=N.D. |display-authors=etal |year=2006 |title=New invasive species in southern Florida: Gambian rat (''Cricetomys gambianus'') |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=87 |issue=2 |pages=262–264|doi=10.1644/05-MAMM-A-132RR.1 |s2cid=28074023 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite journal |last1=Peterson |first1=A.T. |display-authors=etal |year=2006 |title=Native range ecology and invasive potential of ''Cricetomys'' in North America |journal=Journal of Mammalogy |volume=87 |issue=3 |pages=427–432|doi=10.1644/05-MAMM-A-133R3.1 |s2cid=85265719 |doi-access=free }}
* {{cite news |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0210_040210_minerats.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040212012030/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0210_040210_minerats.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 12, 2004 |title=Mine rats |date=February 2004 |publisher=National Geographic |series=News}} – story regards the use in Africa of giant pouched rats and bees to detect land mines
==External links==
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[[Category:Rodents of Africa]]
[[Category:Mammals described in 1840]]
[[Category:
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Gambian pouched rat | |
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A captive pet | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Mammalia |
Order: | Rodentia |
Family: | Nesomyidae |
Genus: | Cricetomys |
Species: |
C. gambianus
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Binomial name | |
Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse, 1840 |
The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also commonly known as the African giant pouched rat, is a speciesofnocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, in the family Nesomyidae. It is among the largest muroids in the world, growing to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long, including the tail, which makes up half of its total length.[2] It is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from SenegaltoKenya and from AngolatoMozambique (although it is absent from much of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Emin's pouched rat is present) from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).[1]
The Gambian pouched rat is sometimes kept as a pet, but some have escaped from captivity and become an invasive speciesinFlorida.[3] In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now ban the importation of this species because it is blamed for the 2003 outbreak of monkeypox.
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The Gambian pouched rat has very poor eyesight, so it depends on its senses of smell and hearing.[4] Its name comes from the large, hamster-like pouches in its cheeks. It is not a true rat, but is part of an African branch of muroid rodents. It typically weighs between 1.0 and 1.4 kg (2.2 and 3.1 lb).[2] In its native Africa, the pouched rat lives in colonies of up to 20, usually in forests and thickets, but also commonly in termite mounds. It is omnivorous, feeding on vegetables, insects, crabs, snails, and other items, but apparently prefers palm fruits and palm kernels.[citation needed]
Its cheek pouches allow it to gather up several kilograms of nuts per night for storage underground. It has been known to stuff its pouches so full of date palm nuts so as to be hardly able to squeeze through the entrance of its burrow.[citation needed] The burrow consists of a long passage with side alleys and several chambers, one for sleeping and the others for storage. The Gambian pouched rat reaches sexual maturity at 5–7 months of age. It has up to four litters every nine months, with up to six offspring in each litter. Males are territorial and tend to be aggressive when they encounter one another.
ATanzanian social enterprise founded by two Belgians, APOPO ("Anti-Personnel Landmines Removal Product Development" in English), trains the closely related southern giant pouched rats (Cricetomys ansorgei)[5] to detect land mines and tuberculosis with their highly developed sense of smell. The trained pouched rats are called HeroRATS. The rats are far cheaper to train than mine-detecting dogs; a rat requires US$7,300 for nine months of training, whereas a dog costs about $25,000 for training, but lives about twice as long.[6][7]
In 2020, a Hero Rat named Magawa (2013–2022)[8] received a People's Dispensary for Sick Animals Gold Medal, the animal equivalent of the George Cross, becoming the first rat to receive the award since the charity began honouring animals in 2003. Before retiring in 2021, Magawa detected 71 landmines and 38 items of unexploded ordnance, clearing over 2,421,880 sq ft (225,000 m2) of land in Cambodia, preventing many injuries and deaths, in his 5-year career.[9][10][11][12] Magawa died from natural causes at the age of 8 in 2022.[8]
The Gambian pouched rat is currently being used in experiments at Cornell University to investigate its usefulness in the detection of tuberculosis in human sputum samples.[13] Reports[14] that they are also being used in Mozambique and Tanzania to check tuberculosis test results have proven mildly incorrect: Genetic testing by Watkins shows APOPO's workers are C. ansorgei.[5]
Gambian pouched rats have become an invasive speciesonGrassy Key in the Florida Keys,[15] after a private breeder allowed the animals to escape in the 1990s.[16][17] Starting in 2007, Florida wildlife officials have tried to eradicate it from Grassy Key, but it was still present as of 2014[update], and has been sighted nearby on Key Largo and in Marathon, Florida.[16]
This outsized African rodent is also believed to be responsible for the 2003 Midwest monkeypox outbreak in the United States, after spreading it to prairie dogs that were purchased as pets. In 2003, the CDC and FDA issued an order preventing the importation of the rodents following the first reported outbreak of monkeypox. Around 20 individuals were affected.[18]
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