Rhizomyinae
Encyclopedia
The subfamily Rhizomyinae of rodent
s includes the Asia
n bamboo rat
s and certain of the Africa
n mole rats. The subfamily is grouped with the Spalacinae and the Myospalacinae into a family of fossorial
muroid rodents
basal to the other Muroidea
.
The group includes 17 species classified in 3 genera and 2 tribes:
Note that the Rhizomyinae do not include two other groups which also have the common name mole rats and are also found in Africa. The closely related subfamily Spalacinae consists of mole-like rodents found in Africa and the Middle East; such as the StevenMcRoberts these are also Myomorphic rodents. The family Bathyergidae, or African Mole-rats (including the well-known Naked Mole Rat
), belong to the other major division of the rodents, the Hystricomorphs.
All the rhizomyines are bulky, slow-moving, burrowing animals, the Rhizomys species being the largest and stockiest. They vary in length from 150 to 480 mm (head and body) with a tail of 50 to 200 mm, and their weights are from 150 g to 4 kg, depending on the species. They mainly feed on the underground parts of plants, which they reach from foraging burrows. They are rarely active above ground, and if they do come out of their extensive burrow systems, it is at twilight or during the night. They are similar to the pocket gopher
s but lack cheek pouches. All are to some extent agricultural pests, attacking food crops, and are therefore hunted; the Asian species are eaten in the areas where they are found, while the skins of the African species are used as amulet
s.
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....
s includes the Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
n bamboo rat
Bamboo rat
The bamboo rats are four species of rodents of the subfamily Rhizomyinae. They are the sole living representatives of the tribe Rhizomyini. All are found in the eastern half of Asia.The species are:...
s and certain of the Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n mole rats. The subfamily is grouped with the Spalacinae and the Myospalacinae into a family of fossorial
Fossorial
A fossorial organism is one that is adapted to digging and life underground such as the badger, the naked mole rat, and the mole salamanders Ambystomatidae...
muroid rodents
Muroidea
Muroidea is a large superfamily of rodents. It includes hamsters, gerbils, true mice and rats, and many other relatives. They occupy a vast variety of habitats on every continent except Antarctica. Some authorities have placed all members of this group into a single family, Muridae, due to...
basal to the other Muroidea
Eumuroida
Eumuroida is a clade defined in 2004 to describe a group of muroid rodents. The clade is not defined in the standard taxonomic hierarchy, but it is between superfamily and family....
.
The group includes 17 species classified in 3 genera and 2 tribes:
- Subfamily Rhizomyinae
- Tribe Rhizomyini - Bamboo rats
- Genus RhizomysRhizomysRhizomys is a genus of rodent in the Spalacidae family.It contains the following species:* Hoary Bamboo Rat * Chinese Bamboo Rat * Large Bamboo Rat...
- Hoary Bamboo RatHoary Bamboo RatThe Hoary Bamboo Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Cambodia, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.- References :...
, Rhizomys pruinosus - Chinese Bamboo RatChinese Bamboo RatThe Chinese Bamboo Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in China, Myanmar, and Vietnam.-References:* Lunde, D., Aplin, K. & Musser, G. 2008. . Downloaded on 16 August 2009....
, Rhizomys sinensis - Large Bamboo RatLarge Bamboo RatThe Large Bamboo Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.-References:...
, Rhizomys sumatrensis
- Hoary Bamboo Rat
- Genus Cannomys
- Lesser Bamboo RatLesser Bamboo RatThe Lesser Bamboo Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Cannomys.It is found in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand.-References:...
, Cannomys badius
- Lesser Bamboo Rat
- Genus Rhizomys
- Tribe Tachyoryctini
- Genus TachyoryctesTachyoryctesTachyoryctes is a genus of rodent in the Spalacidae family.It contains the following species:* Ankole Mole Rat * Mianzini Mole Rat * Audacious Mole Rat...
- Mole rats- Ankole Mole RatAnkole Mole RatThe Ankole Mole Rat or Ankole African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Angola and Uganda. Its natural habitats are moist savanna and arable land.-References:...
, Tachyoryctes ankoliae - Mianzini Mole RatMianzini Mole RatThe Mianzini Mole Rat or Mianzini African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, pastureland, and rural gardens.-References:...
, Tachyoryctes annectens - Audacious Mole RatAudacious Mole RatThe Audacious Mole Rat or Aberdare Mountains African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes and subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland.-References:*Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton....
, Tachyoryctes audax - Demon Mole RatDemon Mole RatThe Demon Mole Rat or Demon African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and arable land.-References:*Musser, G....
, Tachyoryctes daemon - Kenyan African Mole RatKenyan African Mole RatThe Kenyan African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are dry savanna, moist savanna, arable land, pastureland, plantations , rural gardens, urban areas, and heavily degraded former forest.-References:*Musser, G. G. and M. D....
, Tachyoryctes ibeanus - Big-headed Mole RatBig-headed Mole RatTachyoryctes macrocephalus, also known as the Big-headed Mole Rat, Giant Root-rat, Ethiopian African Mole Rat, or Giant Mole-rat, is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family.It is endemic to Ethiopia's Bale Mountains...
, Tachyoryctes macrocephalus - Naivasha Mole RatNaivasha Mole RatThe Naivasha Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, moist savanna, arable land, and pastureland.-References:...
, Tachyoryctes naivashae - King Mole RatKing Mole RatTachyoryctes rex, also known as the King African Mole Rat or Alpine Mole Rat, is a burrowing rodent in the genus Tachyoryctes of family Spalacidae. It only occurs high on Mount Kenya, where it is common...
, Tachyoryctes rex - Ruanda Mole RatRuanda Mole RatThe Ruanda Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda...
, Tachyoryctes ruandae - Rudd's Mole RatRudd's Mole RatThe Rudd's Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Kenya and Uganda. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, arable land, pastureland,...
, Tachyoryctes ruddi - Embi Mole RatEmbi Mole RatThe Embi Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, moist savanna, arable land, pastureland, plantations , and heavily degraded former forest.-References:*Musser, G. G. and M. D. Carleton....
, Tachyoryctes spalacinus - East African Mole RatEast African Mole RatThe East African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is found in Ethiopia and Somalia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, dry savanna, subtropical or tropical high-altitude shrubland, and subtropical or tropical high-altitude...
, Tachyoryctes splendens - Storey's African Mole RatStorey's African Mole RatStorey's African Mole Rat is a species of rodent in the Spalacidae family. It is endemic to Kenya. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry lowland grassland.-References:...
, Tachyoryctes storeyi
- Ankole Mole Rat
- Genus Tachyoryctes
- Tribe Rhizomyini - Bamboo rats
Note that the Rhizomyinae do not include two other groups which also have the common name mole rats and are also found in Africa. The closely related subfamily Spalacinae consists of mole-like rodents found in Africa and the Middle East; such as the StevenMcRoberts these are also Myomorphic rodents. The family Bathyergidae, or African Mole-rats (including the well-known Naked Mole Rat
Naked Mole Rat
The naked mole rat , also known as the sand puppy or desert mole rat, is a burrowing rodent native to parts of East Africa and the only species currently classified in the genus Heterocephalus...
), belong to the other major division of the rodents, the Hystricomorphs.
All the rhizomyines are bulky, slow-moving, burrowing animals, the Rhizomys species being the largest and stockiest. They vary in length from 150 to 480 mm (head and body) with a tail of 50 to 200 mm, and their weights are from 150 g to 4 kg, depending on the species. They mainly feed on the underground parts of plants, which they reach from foraging burrows. They are rarely active above ground, and if they do come out of their extensive burrow systems, it is at twilight or during the night. They are similar to the pocket gopher
Pocket gopher
The pocket gophers are burrowing rodents of the family Geomyidae. These are the "true" gophers, though several ground squirrels of the family Sciuridae are often called gophers as well...
s but lack cheek pouches. All are to some extent agricultural pests, attacking food crops, and are therefore hunted; the Asian species are eaten in the areas where they are found, while the skins of the African species are used as amulet
Amulet
An amulet, similar to a talisman , is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner.Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words said in certain occasions—for example: vade retro satana—, to...
s.