FSD 2010 - Emin Rat

5th International Symposium-Workshop on Frugivores and Seed Dispersal (1985-2010)

Emin's Pouched Rat (Cricetomys emini)

The giant pouched rats (genus Cricetomys) of sub-Saharan Africa are large muroid rodents. Their head and body length ranges from 25-45 cm with scaly tails ranging from 36-46 cm. Females weigh between 1-1.5 kg and males have been known to reach nearly 3 kg. Among them, the Emin's Pouched Rat (Cricetomys emini), also known as the African pouched rat, inhabits tropical rainforest and rely upon fruits, and seeds for consumption. They have a particular taste for palm nuts. It is nocturnal. Emin rat is known to larderhoard food, especially seeds and nuts, in their burow, but their role as seed disperser as observed in neotropical scatterhoarding rodents is unknown. Even if they might not save seed life by burying them, thus preventing them from dessciation and predators, they however contribute to save life of human beings, as in Tanzania, for instance. Once trained, they are able to detect land mines, as their acute sense of smell is very effective for detecting explosives; they are small enough to not detonate any of the mines. Unfortunately, though their conservation status is considered to be "Least Concerned", nonetheless, they highly suffer from hunting as they are an important food source in many African countries (see photo in Cameroun by Pierre-Michel Forget). They are the Hero of the Planet to be protected.

Sources and information

Wikipedia

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Emin rat and landmine detection

Hero-rat

Apopo rats and Vapour Detection Technology