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Microlivestock Little-Known Small Animals with a Promising Economic Future (1991) / Chapter Skim
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18 Giant Rat
Pages 225-232

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From page 225...
... Since these herbivores are well known there, and are acceptable as food, they may have as much or more potential as meat animals than the introduced rabbits that are getting considerable attention (see page 178~. AREA OF POTENTIAL USE The intertropical zone of Africa from the southern Sahara to the northern Transvaal.
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From page 226...
... Although common, they are not as well known as one might suppose from their bulk and from the fact that they are sometimes found around, and even inside, houses. HABITAT AND ENVIRONMENT Giant rats occur largely in lightly wooded dryland regions or in forested humid regions.
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From page 227...
... BEHAVIOR These strictly nocturnal animals usually lead solitary lives and forage alone. Mostly, they occupy a burrow by themselves, except when the 3 Information from M
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From page 228...
... USES A study carried out in Nigeria showed that the giant rat produces about the same amount of meat as the domestic rabbit.4 The meat's nutritional value compares favorably with that of domestic livestock, and African villagers know how to preserve it by smoking or by salting. The giant rat has recently attracted attention as a potential laboratory animal.
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From page 229...
... A project at the University of Kinshasa in Zaire reports problems in getting giant rats to reproduce in captivity. When two specimens were paired they sometimes fought so viciously that copulation was impossible.6 Special management may be required, such as housing animals in adjacent cages before actually introducing them to each other.
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From page 230...
... Caging these animals results in the general loss of the insect, but attempts should be made to maintain them and to determine their role and life cycle.7 The potential of this species as a laboratory animal in nutritional, clinical, and pharmacological research also deserves exploration. 7 Information from M
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Key Terms

  • giant rats
  • laboratory animal
  • cricetomys gambianus
  • commonly found
  • cricetomys emini

  • root crops
  • west african
  • dusky gray
  • inside deserted
  • depositing droppings

  • including vegetable
  • omnivorous feeding
  • meat animals
  • equatorial forest
  • adjacent cages

  • found inside
  • rainforest species
  • southern nigeria
  • vegetation zones
  • locally available

  • throughout africa
  • compares favorably
  • commensal relationship
  • wooded dryland
  • dark hair

  • getting giant
  • housing animals
  • african countries
  • recently attracted
  • species occurs


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