Last week's mystery photo was a picture of a giant pouched rat. These large rats have cheek pouches like hamsters, which distinguishes them from many other rats (including the rats that are common in cities). The rat in the photo has really stuffed his cheeks full of seeds! Then they hide the seeds somewhere else in the forest (like squirrels with acorns) or bring it back to their burrow.
Here is another photo of a giant rat with his cheek pouches empty. He looks a bit more rat-like in this pose.
These rats are hunted and eaten in many places in Africa, but some people in the U.S. and Europe keep this species as pets. Unfortunately, some have escaped in Florida and they are now an invasive species. But here in Tanzania, they play an important role as seed dispersers.
it looks like it can have good camouflage
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