| Gambian pouched rat | |
|---|---|
| |
| A captive pet | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Nesomyidae |
| Genus: | Cricetomys |
| Species: | C. gambianus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Cricetomys gambianus Waterhouse, 1840
| |
The Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus), also commonly known as the African giant pouched rat, is a species of nocturnal pouched rat of the giant pouched rat genus Cricetomys, in the family Nesomyidae. It is among the largest muroids in the world, growing to about 0.9 m (3 ft) long, including the tail, which makes up half of its total length.[2] It is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa, ranging from Senegal to Kenya and from Angola to Mozambique (although it is absent from much of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where Emin's pouched rat is present) from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft).[1]
The Gambian pouched rat is sometimes kept as a pet, but some have escaped from captivity and become an invasive species in Florida.[3] In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now ban the importation of this species because it is blamed for the 2003 outbreak of monkeypox.
- ^ a b Kennerley, R. (2019). "Cricetomys gambianus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T112169507A50534302. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T112169507A50534302.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Kingdonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Keeping and caring for Gambian pouched rats as pets". The Spruce Pets. Retrieved 2021-01-28.