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- Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck, 1827
Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck, 1827
Order: Rodentia > Family: Thryonomyidae > Genus: Thryonomys > Species: Thryonomys swinderianus Temminck, 1827
Common Name: Greater Cane Rat [English]
Type Description
Monogr. Mamm., 1:248.
Type Locality
Sierra Leone.
Measurements
Head and body: 432-584 mm
Tail length: 170-262 mm
Hindfoot length: 65-89 mm
Weight: 4.5-8.8 g
Tail length: 170-262 mm
Hindfoot length: 65-89 mm
Weight: 4.5-8.8 g
Description
The cane rats are commonly hunted for food. Look for the three grooves on each of the upper incisors.
Distribution
Thryonomys swinderianus is widely distributed from Ghana to Angola in the west over to Ethiopia, Somalia and down to Mozambique and the east coastline of South Africa in the east. This semi-aquatic species is found in reed beds and grassy areas in valleys and along rivers and lakes. (Kingdon, 1984, 1997)
Key References
1. Kingdon, J. 1984. East African mammals: An atlas of evolution in Africa. (Hares and Rodents). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2B:700-701.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 189.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1650-1651.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.
2. Kingdon, J. 1997. The Kingdon field guide to African mammals, AP Natural World Academic Press, Harcourt Brace & Company, San Diego, p. 189.
3. Nowak, R. M. 1999. Walker's Mammals of the World. Sixth ed. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2:1650-1651.
4. Swynnerton, G. H., and R. W. Hayman. 1951. A checklist of the land mammals of the Tanganyika Territory and the Zanzibar Protectorate. Journal of the East African Natural History Society, 20(6):274-392.