Southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat

The southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat or southern Luzon giant cloud rat (Phloeomys cumingi), also known as bugkon in Filipino, is a vulnerable species of rodent in the family Muridae, found only in southern Luzon in the Philippines.[1][2] It is dark brown, occasionally with some reddish, but lacking the light-coloured sections usually seen in its close relative, the northern Luzon giant cloud rat (P. pallidus). The southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat is a large rodent that has a total length of about 67–75 cm (26–30 in) and weighs 1.45–2.1 kg (3.2–4.6 lb).[2]

Southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Rodentia
Family: Muridae
Genus: Phloeomys
Species:
P. cumingi
Binomial name
Phloeomys cumingi
(Waterhouse, 1839)
Synonyms

Capromys elegans Cabrera, 1901

Equally at home high amongst the branches of a tree as on the forest floor, the southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat is a slow-moving animal only active at night, spending the day in hollow trees or logs. It usually lives singly, or in pairs consisting of an adult male and female, or a female and her young, but larger groups have also been seen. Their diet consists primarily of tender, young leaves, but fruit is also reportedly eaten. The southern giant slender-tailed cloud rat typically gives birth to a single pup each year, with data indicating that most births take place during the late rainy season. The young are born in the hollow of a standing or fallen tree, or in a hole in the ground. The mother carries her young firmly attached to a nipple. In captivity, one cloud rat lived for over 13 years.[3]

References
  1. Heaney, L.; Balete, D.; Rosell-Ambal, G.; Tabaranza, B.; Ong, P.; Ruedas, L.; Gonzales, J.C.; Oliver, W. (2008). "Phloeomys cumingi". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2008: e.T17003A6713672. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T17003A6713672.en.
  2. "Phloeomys cumingi". Field Museum of Natural History, Synopsis of Philippine Mammals. 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  3. "Encyclopedia of Life".
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