Southern African vlei rat facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern African vlei rat |
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| A southern African vlei rat, grazing beside a reed-fringed dam | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Muridae |
| Genus: | Otomys |
| Species: |
O. irroratus
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| Binomial name | |
| Otomys irroratus (Brants, 1827)
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The Southern African vlei rat (Otomys irroratus) is a type of rodent found in southern Africa. It belongs to a group of rats called Otomys and is part of the Muridae family. This rat is very common in the grasslands and swamps of its home region.
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Meet the Southern African Vlei Rat
The Southern African Vlei Rat is a fairly large rat. It has thick, shaggy fur that is always growing. Its head is big, its ears are small, and its tail is short. The fur on its back can be gray, brown, or black. Its belly is usually a lighter or darker shade of gray.
All of its toes have claws. The claws on its back feet are longer than those on its front feet. An adult rat's body is about 160 mm (6.3 in) long. Its tail adds another 100 mm (4 in) to its length. Both male and female rats weigh about 143.7 grams.
Where Do Vlei Rats Live?
These rats live in the southern parts of Africa. Their home range starts in the Western Cape of South Africa. It stretches along the southern and eastern coasts and into the land nearby. This area includes the country of Lesotho.
Further north, they live more inland, away from the coast. Their range goes up to tropical areas, almost to the northern border of the old Transvaal Province. This includes parts of Eswatini. There is also a group of these rats living separately in eastern Zimbabwe and nearby Mozambique.
Vlei Rat Habitats
Vlei rats like to live in different kinds of places. They can be found in cool, low-lying swamps and grasslands. They also live in warm, high-altitude grasslands, swamps, and even plantations. They are land animals that live above ground. They build open, bowl-shaped nests from shredded grass. These nests are usually found near marshy areas with lots of plants.
Daily Life of a Vlei Rat
Southern African Vlei Rats are most active around sunrise and sunset. This is called being "crepuscular." Some vlei rats are also active during the day, while others are active at night. They share and create paths through the plants. They use these paths to find food.
What Do Vlei Rats Eat?
The Southern African Vlei Rat is a strict herbivore. This means it only eats plants. Its diet includes the stems and leaves of grasses, herbs, and small bushes. They also eat grass seeds. These rats are not picky eaters. They will eat almost any green plant in their habitat.
Sometimes, they gnaw on the bark of pine trees in plantations. This can damage the trees. Vlei rats can even eat some plants that are a bit toxic. Their bodies are good at digesting tough plant material. They also sometimes eat their own droppings to get all the nutrients they need.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Southern African Vlei Rats often mate with several partners. Females can give birth up to four times a year. Each time, they have 1 to 4 babies. The mother carries the babies for about five to six weeks before they are born.
In some areas, like the Eastern Cape, they breed all year long. In other places, like Transvaal, they mostly breed in August. This is when there is a lot of food available.
Baby Vlei Rats
Baby vlei rats are quite developed when they are born. They are covered with fur, and their front teeth have already grown in. This allows them to hold onto their mother as she moves around for the first two weeks.
By their second day, their eyes are open, and they can hear very well. They can also start eating solid food. They will eat their own droppings, and even the droppings of other rats, to get enough nutrients. By day 5, they can move their bodies in a coordinated way. They are usually done drinking milk from their mother by day 13.
They grow very quickly. By the time they are 10 weeks old, they weigh about 71% of what an adult weighs. Female rats can have their own babies when they are 9–10 weeks old. Males mature a little later. These rats can live for up to 2 years.
Vlei Rat Behaviors
Vlei rats are good at running quickly along their paths. They can also swim if they need to. They often use their front paws to hold and eat food. They also use their paws to groom themselves and wash their faces.
These rats prefer to be alone. They can be aggressive towards other vlei rats. Adult males have a home area of about 1,730 m2 (18,600 sq ft). They protect a small area around their nest. They use special smells from their bodies to mark their territory.
When two vlei rats meet, they might fight. This can lead to serious injuries until one rat runs away or shows it gives up. A rat that gives up might stand upright, show its belly, and chatter its teeth.
Vlei rats do not dig burrows. They stay warm by producing heat inside their bodies. They also have a low metabolism. This might be why they can eat food that isn't very high quality.
Who Hunts Vlei Rats?
The main predators of vlei rats are barn owls and grass owls. Other animals that hunt them include pythons, mole snakes, wildcats, mongooses, and cape clawless otters.
 | James Van Der Zee |
 | Alma Thomas |
 | Ellis Wilson |
 | Margaret Taylor-Burroughs |
