- English Common Name
- Ryukyu Long-tailed Giant Rat
- Scientific name
- Diplothrix legata
- Taxonomy
- Order: Rodentia, Family: Muridae
- Size
- 22 cm – 33 cm
- Species Distribution
- Northern area of Okinawa Island, Amamioshima and Tokushima Islands
- Local Common Name
- Yama aji, Yama ah ji
- National Special Natural Monument
- National Endangered Species
- Okinawa Red List of Threatened Species: Critically Endangered
- Japan Red List of Threatened Species: Endangered
Its tail has hair.
- It is found in chinquapin trees and feeds on chinquapin nuts and insects. The hair on the back is 3 cm long with flat, spiky hairs 2.5 cm in length. Thicker hairs from 5cm to 6cm in length mixed throughout the body. Hair is found not only on its body but also on tail. Not good at moving on the ground, these nocturnal animals live in trees. They make burrows in trees and stay there during the day. They build nests for their young by packing leaves into the burrows from the forest floor.The Ryukyu Long-haired Rat is the biggest rat found in Japan. Large trees with enough space to make burrows are needed for habitats.
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※Please Note!
Diplothrix legata is a national endangered species and National Natural Monument. Please refer to the Act on Conservation of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Japan"s law for the Protection of Cultural Properties. - Updated June 2017