Armored Rat
Encyclopedia
The Armored Rat is a species of rodent
in the family Echimyidae. It is monotypic
within the genus Hoplomys. It is found in Latin America
, from northern Honduras
to northwest Ecuador
. They have a range of spines on their back and sides, although they are born with soft fur – the spines begin growing after the first month.
, they are more closely related to porcupine
s than the common brown rat
. Adults weigh between 218–790 g (0.480607731563033–1.7 lb) with males weighing more on average than females, and have thick spines on the back and sides of the body, which measure up to 33 millimetres (1.3 in) and 2 millimetre (0.078740157480315 in) in diameter. The head and body measures between 220–320 mm (8.7–12.6 in) in length, with the tail adding another 150–255 mm (5.9–10 in). The color of the Armored Rat range from black to reddish brown, and has a pure white underside. They are similar in appearance to Tome's Spiny-rat
, but the eyes of the Armored Rat are smaller and they have a longer snout
. Its diet includes fruit, insects and green plant matter. The normal litter size is one to three, and the fur on the offspring is soft with the spines only developing after the first month.
to northwest Ecuador
, from lowlands up to around 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) in altitude.
Rodent
Rodentia is an order of mammals also known as rodents, characterised by two continuously growing incisors in the upper and lower jaws which must be kept short by gnawing....
in the family Echimyidae. It is monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
within the genus Hoplomys. It is found in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, from northern Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
to northwest Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
. They have a range of spines on their back and sides, although they are born with soft fur – the spines begin growing after the first month.
Description
Part of the infraorder HystricognathiHystricognathi
Hystricognathi is an infraorder of rodents. Hystricognaths are distinguished from other rodents by the bone structure of their skulls. The masseter medialis passes partially through the infraorbital foramen and connects to the bone on the opposite side...
, they are more closely related to porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
s than the common brown rat
Brown Rat
The brown rat, common rat, sewer rat, Hanover rat, Norway rat, Brown Norway rat, Norwegian rat, or wharf rat is one of the best known and most common rats....
. Adults weigh between 218–790 g (0.480607731563033–1.7 lb) with males weighing more on average than females, and have thick spines on the back and sides of the body, which measure up to 33 millimetres (1.3 in) and 2 millimetre (0.078740157480315 in) in diameter. The head and body measures between 220–320 mm (8.7–12.6 in) in length, with the tail adding another 150–255 mm (5.9–10 in). The color of the Armored Rat range from black to reddish brown, and has a pure white underside. They are similar in appearance to Tome's Spiny-rat
Tome's Spiny-rat
Tome's Spiny-rat , also known as the Central American spiny rat, is a species of spiny rat distributed from Honduras to Ecuador. The IUCN classifies it as least concern under P. semispinosus and near threatened as P. gorgonae.-References:*Woods, C. A. and C. W. Kilpatrick. 2005. Hystricognathi...
, but the eyes of the Armored Rat are smaller and they have a longer snout
Snout
The snout, or muzzle, is the protruding portion of an animal's face, consisting of its nose, mouth, and jaw.-Terminology:The term "muzzle", used as a noun, can be ambiguous...
. Its diet includes fruit, insects and green plant matter. The normal litter size is one to three, and the fur on the offspring is soft with the spines only developing after the first month.
Habitat
The Armored Rat is nocturnal species, which occupies burrows. These burrows are usually positioned in steep banks close to a water source, and can measure up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length before reaching a nesting chamber. They are distributed from northern HondurasHonduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
to northwest Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, from lowlands up to around 800 metres (2,624.7 ft) in altitude.