Littledale's whistling rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Littledale's whistling rat |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Parotomys |
| Species: |
P. littledalei
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| Binomial name | |
| Parotomys littledalei Thomas, 1918
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The Littledale's whistling rat (Parotomys littledalei) is a type of rodent that lives in Namibia and South Africa. It's known for its special whistle-like call! This small animal is one of two species in its genus, Parotomys. Its cousin is the Brants's whistling rat. Littledale's whistling rats make their homes in dry, warm places. These include areas with lots of shrubland and even deserts.
What Does It Look Like?
The Littledale's whistling rat looks a lot like its relative, the Brants's whistling rat. But there are a few ways to tell them apart! You can look at their front teeth, called incisors. Also, their whistle calls sound different.
Male Littledale's whistling rats are about 21.5 centimeters (8.5 inches) long from head to body. Females are usually a bit smaller. Another clue to tell them apart is their ears. Littledale's whistling rats have ears that are more pointed than those of the Brants's whistling rat.
Where Does It Live?
Littledale's whistling rats live in some of the driest parts of southwestern Africa. You can find them near the edges of the Namib Desert and in the Karoo region. Their total living area is smaller than 2,000 square kilometers (770 square miles).
Their home range includes southern Namibia and western South Africa. They do not live in Angola. These rats have a "patchy" distribution. This means they are found in some places but not others, and they don't move around much.
For example, during a long dry period in 2003, these rats disappeared from one area. It took about ten years for them to return! They need places with deep soil to dig their burrows. This includes sand dunes, coastal areas, and dry valley floors.
How Does It Live?
Littledale's whistling rats are active during the day. They eat grasses, juicy plants, and other fresh plant material. They get all the water they need from these plants.
These rats build large burrow systems under bushes. Their burrows have several rooms filled with shredded plants. These rooms are connected by paths on the surface. These paths also lead to their feeding areas.
When a predator is nearby, the rat lets out a loud, high-pitched whistle. You might hear their calls before you ever see them!
What Is Its Status?
The Littledale's whistling rat lives in many places, including several protected areas. Where the habitat is good, there are many of these rats. They don't seem to be facing any major threats right now.
Because of this, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says its conservation status is "least concern". This means they are not currently in danger of disappearing.
However, the South African Regional Red List has a different view. They list it as "near-threatened". This means it could become threatened in the future. They worry about longer dry periods and changes in plant cover. For example, if there is more grass or fewer shrubs due to changes in grazing, it could harm the rats.
 | Misty Copeland |
 | Raven Wilkinson |
 | Debra Austin |
 | Aesha Ash |
