| Dassie rat Temporal range:
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|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Parvorder: | Phiomorpha |
| Family: | Petromuridae |
| Genus: | Petromus |
| Species: | P. typicus
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| Binomial name | |
| Petromus typicus A. Smith, 1831
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The dassie rat (Petromus typicus) is an African rodent found among rocky outcroppings. It is the only living member of its genus, Petromus, and family, Petromuridae. The name "dassie" means "hyrax" in Afrikaans,[2] and the two animals are found in similar habitats. Petromus means "rock mouse" and dassie rats are one of many rodents sometimes called rock rats. The family and genus names are sometimes misspelled as Petromyidae and Petromys.
- ^ Cassola, F. (2016). "Petromus typicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T16776A22240649. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T16776A22240649.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ dassie rats are not to be confused with Cape hyraxes, which are also called dassies and are not rodents.