# Lesser bamboo rat

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{{Short description|Species of rodent}}
{{Further | Bamboo rat}}
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{{Speciesbox
| name = Lesser bamboo rat
| image = Cannomys badius Plzen zoo.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn|author=Aplin, K.|author2=Lunde, D.|author3=Musser, G.|author4=Frost, A.|author5=Molur, S. |year=2016 |title=''Cannomys badius'' |errata=2017 |article-number=e.T3759A115066803 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T3759A22274794.en |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>
| genus = Cannomys
| parent_authority = [Thomas](/source/Oldfield_Thomas), 1915
| species = badius
| authority = ([Hodgson](/source/Brian_Houghton_Hodgson), 1841)
| range_map = Range_Cannomys_badius.png
}}

The '''lesser bamboo rat''' ('''''Cannomys badius''''') is a species of [rodent](/source/rodent) in the family [Spalacidae](/source/Spalacidae). It is [monotypic](/source/monotypic) within the [genus](/source/genus) '''''Cannomys'''''.<ref name=Smith/> It is found in [Bangladesh](/source/Bangladesh), [Bhutan](/source/Bhutan), [Cambodia](/source/Cambodia), [China](/source/China), [India](/source/India), [Myanmar](/source/Myanmar), [Nepal](/source/Nepal), and [Thailand](/source/Thailand).

==Description==
The lesser bamboo rat is a small, stocky [mole](/source/Mole_(animal))-like rat. It reaches a length of about {{cvt|200|mm|0}} with a tail of around {{cvt|60|mm|0}}, weighing between {{convert|210|and|340|g}}. The ears are small and completely hidden in the coat. The fur is soft and dense, reddish-brown to greyish-brown on the upper parts and rather paler and thinner on the underparts. Sometimes, white stripes are on the crown of the head or some white on the throat. The tail has a few hairs.<ref name=Smith>{{cite book|author1=Andrew T. Smith|author2=Yan Xie|title=A guide to the mammals of China|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ka-9f68nPT4C&pg=PA212 |year=2008 |publisher=Princeton University Press |isbn=978-0-691-09984-2|page=212 }}</ref> Lesser bamboo rats have a robust, cylindrical body, small ears and eyes, and short, stout legs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/animal/bamboo-rat|title=Bamboo rat {{!}} rodent|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref>

==Behaviour==
The lesser bamboo rat is a burrowing animal usually found in [bamboo](/source/bamboo) groves in mountainous areas, but also occurring in woodland, plantations, and [disturbed ground](/source/disturbed_ground). The burrow entrance may be at the foot of a tree, under a clump of bamboo, in a bank, or in the open. Excavated earth is flung up in a mound at the entrance of the tunnel and further mounds occur at intervals along the course of the burrow. The main tunnel runs horizontally beneath the surface and may reach a depth of {{cvt|60|cm|0}} and total length as long as {{cvt|58|m}}. It ends in a roomy nesting chamber. When the animal is underground, the entrance of the burrow is plugged with earth.<ref name=Smith/>

The lesser bamboo rat emerges above ground at dusk to forage for plant material such as shoots, especially of bamboo, and roots. These rats become sexually mature at the age of one year and females produce litters of two to five offspring after a [gestation](/source/gestation) period of about six weeks. Weaning takes place some eight weeks later.<ref name=Smith/>

==Status==
The lesser bamboo rat has a wide range and is abundant in places. The threats it faces include being hunted for food and killed as a pest in rubber plantations. The [International Union for Conservation of Nature](/source/International_Union_for_Conservation_of_Nature) has listed its conservation status as being of "[least concern](/source/least_concern)".<ref name=iucn/>

==References==
{{Commons}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{MSW3 Muroidea | id = 13000019 | page = }}

{{Spalacidae nav}}
{{Myomorpha|M.|state=collapsed}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q769742}}

Category:Spalacidae
Category:Rats of Asia
Category:Rodents of India
Category:Rodents of Southeast Asia
Category:Mammals of Nepal
Category:Mammals of Bangladesh
Category:Mammals described in 1841
Category:Taxa named by Brian Houghton Hodgson
Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Lesser bamboo rat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_bamboo_rat) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_bamboo_rat?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.