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Malagasy giant rat - hind, Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar I figured to add this shot of a Malagasy giant rat running away from us, as I don&#039;t think we&#039;ll often get to see the underside of their enormous feet. The photo also shows how they run on four, they don&#039;t jump. Full observation here:<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83452/malagasy_giant_rat_-_frontal_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html" title="Malagasy giant rat - frontal, Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/83452_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=tZllEr3DatDGBmvjuPb44%2Bt2BME%3D" width="200" height="158" alt="Malagasy giant rat - frontal, Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar Here it is, the iconic Malagasy giant rat, a very rare and endangered mammal, Madagascar&#039;s largest rodent. They are restricted to a tiny range (Menabe region, about 20km&sup2;) with Kirindy being their main safe haven. Almost everything that is known about this nocturnal species comes from Kirindy&#039;s research.<br /> <br /> Despite their rarity, there&#039;s good odds to see some at Kirindy. One of their burrows is close to the reception and parking area. Several hours after sunset, they exit their burrow and make way to their territory which they obsessively mark with urine, feces, and scent gland secretions. They work as a couple, one of few rodent species in the world being sexually monogamous.<br /> <br /> Despite looking like a tiny kangaroo, they don&#039;t jump. They walk. Which is a ridiculous sight, like a blob with tiny legs. <br /> <br /> Because of their territorial nature, you can pretty much count on them to be in the same place every single night. They are absolutely terrified of light and will immediately flee the scene when shining a torch on them. The tactic to use is to therefore move close to them in full darkness, and anticipate the brief moment in which they are lit up. This still usually fails but once every few tries, they will be confused for a few seconds, stand up on their feet wondering where to go, and in that tiny moment, we managed to photographed them.<br /> <br /> Here&#039;s a video that makes me look like an idiot for contradicting all the behavior I just described:<br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikyjb_MG6Iw<br /> I do think I can explain it. That video is from 2015, when they still used the practice of luring them with rice. The individual on the video probably got used to that and became less fearful of people and light. The luring with food is unnecessary, they will come in any case.<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83450/malagasy_giant_rat_-_frontal_closeup_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83453/malagasy_giant_rat_-_side_view_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83451/malagasy_giant_rat_-_back_view_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html<br /> Africa,Geotagged,Hypogeomys antimena,Kirindy Reserve,Madagascar,Madagascar 2019,Malagasy giant rat,Winter,World" /></a></figure> Africa,Geotagged,Hypogeomys antimena,Kirindy Reserve,Madagascar,Madagascar 2019,Malagasy giant rat,Winter,World Click/tap to enlarge

Malagasy giant rat - hind, Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar

I figured to add this shot of a Malagasy giant rat running away from us, as I don't think we'll often get to see the underside of their enormous feet. The photo also shows how they run on four, they don't jump. Full observation here:

Malagasy giant rat - frontal, Kirindy Reserve, Madagascar Here it is, the iconic Malagasy giant rat, a very rare and endangered mammal, Madagascar's largest rodent. They are restricted to a tiny range (Menabe region, about 20km²) with Kirindy being their main safe haven. Almost everything that is known about this nocturnal species comes from Kirindy's research.<br /> <br /> Despite their rarity, there's good odds to see some at Kirindy. One of their burrows is close to the reception and parking area. Several hours after sunset, they exit their burrow and make way to their territory which they obsessively mark with urine, feces, and scent gland secretions. They work as a couple, one of few rodent species in the world being sexually monogamous.<br /> <br /> Despite looking like a tiny kangaroo, they don't jump. They walk. Which is a ridiculous sight, like a blob with tiny legs. <br /> <br /> Because of their territorial nature, you can pretty much count on them to be in the same place every single night. They are absolutely terrified of light and will immediately flee the scene when shining a torch on them. The tactic to use is to therefore move close to them in full darkness, and anticipate the brief moment in which they are lit up. This still usually fails but once every few tries, they will be confused for a few seconds, stand up on their feet wondering where to go, and in that tiny moment, we managed to photographed them.<br /> <br /> Here's a video that makes me look like an idiot for contradicting all the behavior I just described:<br /> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikyjb_MG6Iw<br /> I do think I can explain it. That video is from 2015, when they still used the practice of luring them with rice. The individual on the video probably got used to that and became less fearful of people and light. The luring with food is unnecessary, they will come in any case.<br /> <br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83450/malagasy_giant_rat_-_frontal_closeup_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83453/malagasy_giant_rat_-_side_view_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83451/malagasy_giant_rat_-_back_view_kirindy_reserve_madagascar.html<br /> Africa,Geotagged,Hypogeomys antimena,Kirindy Reserve,Madagascar,Madagascar 2019,Malagasy giant rat,Winter,World

    comments (4)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
    Lion
    View Lion class
    It's all about that bass. Posted 6 years ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      But, the feet are awesome too! It looks like it has indentations on the bottom of its foot. Weird! Posted 6 years ago
    2. View Ferdy Christant's profile
      Ferdy Christant
      Lion
      View Lion class
      This was a very chubby individual yes, not very slick. It's either obese or pregnant, did not dare to ask. Posted 6 years ago
      1. View Christine Young's profile
        Christine Young
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Good decision ;) Posted 6 years ago

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The Malagasy giant rat

The Malagasy giant rat, also known as the votsota or votsovotsa, is a nesomyid rodent found only in the Menabe region of Madagascar. It is an endangered species due to habitat loss, slow reproduction, and limited range Pairs are monogamous and females bear only one or two young per year. It is the only extant species in the genus "Hypogeomys"; another species, "Hypogeomys australis", is known from subfossil remains a few thousand years old.

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Similar species: Rodents
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
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By Ferdy Christant

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Uploaded Aug 24, 2019. Captured Jul 10, 2019 00:05 in Madagascar.
country flag of Madagascar Explore Madagascar 3,111 753 0
  • NIKON D850
  • f/5.6
  • 1/60s
  • ISO100
  • 400mm
View light conditions of this photo
Captured in the winter. More winter photos.