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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 4, 2007 22:09:46 GMT -4
This further explains the Mystery Rodent thread. . . Here they are. I now have two pairs, males and females, and they weren't cheap to purchase. During my research I came upon some photos of actual ACACIA RATS, and here are two: Note the coloring is far more agouti, AND they have dark "mascara" around the eyes, giving them to some a "goth" look! lol Their general shape, thougb, is similar. But they are clearly different from mine. Mine, however, are IN FACT, NATAL RATS - also known as "African Smooth-Furred Rats". Some have nicknamed them "dwarf rats". This is the only site I could find about NATAL RATS despite hours of Web browsing: goto.glocalnet.net/natal/care.htmSo, mine are NATAL RATS, and they are lovely, calm, fascinating - and one female is obviously pregnant. And considering their rarity, that is just fine!
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Post by moshev on Mar 5, 2007 19:31:02 GMT -4
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 5, 2007 19:36:44 GMT -4
Thanks.
Have you ever seen them live?
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 5, 2007 20:05:04 GMT -4
Where do the Acacia rats come from? Since you said the other rats have the word African in it's name, I'm guessing they're from Africa?
And how come they don't look like rats, breeding?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 5, 2007 21:30:23 GMT -4
They are a type of rat. So they look like a rat - just not the type you are used to. Would anyone coming here from Mars and seeing a Pomeranian and a Bull Mastiff think they are both dogs?! Phylum CHORDATA Class MAMMALIA Order RODENTIA Family MURIDAE Common Name/s ACACIA RAT (E) Botswana Congo, The Democratic Republic of the Ethiopia Kenya Malawi Mozambique Namibia Somalia South Africa Swaziland Tanzania, United Republic of Zambia Zimbabwe
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 5, 2007 22:11:19 GMT -4
That is a lot of African countries they are from.
*OT--If I ever go to Africa, I want to go to South Africa, Mauritana and the Sahara/Kalahari.*
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 5, 2007 22:17:07 GMT -4
Seems like they are native to the entire southern half of Africa, acacia rats that is. >> OT--If I ever go to Africa, I want to go to South Africa, Mauritana and the Sahara/Kalahari.* << Like deserts, huh? Bring water; it gets over 110 degrees F in those places sometimes.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 5, 2007 23:08:40 GMT -4
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Post by moshev on Mar 6, 2007 2:48:51 GMT -4
I think most of the difference is in their anatomy.As most species do adapt theirselves to their enviornment.They seem to have a wider girth to them which would compensate for dealing with a different terrain.Those eyelids and extra thickness are there to protect them from plants that are close to the ground with sharp edges on them.They are probably capable of retaining water for a longer period of time due to the weather conditions-including their fur which is thicker for the same reasons.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 6, 2007 20:33:28 GMT -4
I assume you are talking about Natal rats, and NOT Acacia rats?
I would assume Natal rats, on average, come from an area in South Africa with less water on average than the more wide-ranging Acacias.
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Post by moshev on Mar 6, 2007 20:43:09 GMT -4
Yes I was reffering to the natal species.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 6, 2007 21:00:18 GMT -4
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 6, 2007 21:11:13 GMT -4
*You asked why I wanted to go to those places in Africa, and since I don't want your thread to go OT, I'll write you about it in a pm*
Oh...soo...what did you name yours?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 6, 2007 21:40:49 GMT -4
For those interested, you wanted to see the Great White Sharks offshore and the wildlife in those places. According to the CIA, though, there is a slave trade ongoing in Mauritania! So watch out! I have not named them yet. I still owe you a name. Arggh. Want to offer up some names? Maybe Zulu names, as they are from Natal?
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Post by Hamsters82 on Mar 6, 2007 23:04:13 GMT -4
*Well I picked Mauritana because it was near the Sahara. I only learned after I wrote the story that terrorists come there and your info. Ekk.
As for the GWS, they are known to be lots of them in S. Africa. Cape Town.*
Sure, I'll think up some names later tomorrow as I'm dead tired today.
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