Lesser Bamboo Rat

About this species

Size

Length about 200mm; tail about 60mm

Weight

210–340g

Diet

Shoots, especially of bamboo, and roots

Habitat

Bamboo groves in mountainous areas; also woodland, plantations and disturbed ground

Range

Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Cambodia

Litter size

2–5 young

Gestation

About six weeks

The lesser bamboo rat is a robust, cylindrical rodent, about 20 cm long with a tail of about 6 cm, weighing 210–340 g. The ears are small and hidden in the coat, and the fur is soft and dense, reddish brown to greyish brown above and paler and thinner below, sometimes with white stripes on the crown or white on the throat. It has small eyes and short, stout legs (Wikipedia, general species account).

It is a burrowing animal, usually found in bamboo groves in mountainous areas but also in woodland, plantations and disturbed ground. The main tunnel runs horizontally near the surface and can be up to 58 m long, ending in a roomy nesting chamber, and earth is thrown into a mound at the entrance. It comes out at dusk to forage for plant material, especially bamboo shoots and roots. Females bear two to five young after about six weeks (Wikipedia, general species account).

Description: Wildlife of India guide, Wildlife of Everywhere (wildlifeofeverywhere.com); general species information paraphrased from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)