African Grass Rat

Arvicanthis niloticus

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Mammalia · Rodentia · Muridae

About

The African grass rat (Arvicanthis niloticus) is a species of rodent in the family Murinae. The species is divided into the following six subspecies. Rüppell, 1842): Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea; Tanzania, Kenya, Burundi, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo; A.

Fun Fact

Unlike most rodents, African grass rats are strictly diurnal and have cone-rich retinas adapted for daylight vision, making them valuable models for studying human circadian rhythm disorders.

Quick Facts

Habitat

Grasslands and farmlands

Diet

Herbivore

Lifespan

2-3 years

Threats

Invasive Species
Urban Expansion

External Data Sources

Recent sightings on iNaturalist IUCN Red List profile

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