Common rock rat facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Common rock rat
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Muridae
Genus:	Zyzomys
Species:	Z. argurus
Binomial name
Zyzomys argurus (Thomas, 1889)
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The common rock rat (Zyzomys argurus) is a small rodent that lives only in Australia. It belongs to the Muridae family, which includes many types of mice and rats. You can find these rats in rocky areas, like the slopes of cliffs, within woodlands, grasslands, and open forests.

This little animal is nocturnal, meaning it is active at night. During the day, it hides and rests in cool cracks in the rocks. This is very important because direct sunlight can quickly cause them to get too hot, leading to a dangerous condition called heat stroke, which can be deadly.

Appearance

The common rock rat has fur that is mostly golden brown on its back and sides, with a white belly. It is quite small, weighing about 25 to 65 grams. That's like the weight of a few strawberries! From its head to the base of its tail, it measures about 8.5 to 14 centimeters long.

Its tail is thick and can be 9 to 12.5 centimeters long. This tail is special because it stores fat, which helps the rat survive when food is scarce. The tail is covered in tiny, overlapping scales and a few hairs. If a predator grabs its tail, the skin can easily peel off, allowing the rat to escape. This is similar to how some lizards can drop their tails to get away! This ability is called autotomy.

Reproduction and Life Cycle

Common rock rats become old enough to have babies when they are about 5 to 6 months old. Female rats usually have 4 nipples, but they typically give birth to 2 or 3 babies at a time.

The mother carries her babies for about 35 days before they are born. When they are about 10 days old, the baby rats start to grow fur. By 12 days old, their eyes open. They drink their mother's milk until they are about 4 weeks old, which is when they are "weaned" and start eating solid food. We don't know exactly how long common rock rats live in the wild, but one was reported to live for 4.2 years in a safe, controlled environment.

What They Eat

Common rock rats are not picky eaters! Their diet includes many different plant parts, such as grasses, seeds, and even fungi. They also enjoy eating insects.

There's a fun story about a common rock rat in Maguk, Kakadu National Park. Someone saw it enjoying a plate of custard and rice pudding that had been left alone! This shows they are quite adaptable when it comes to finding food.